Blasting for Purple Line tunnel in Long Branch area to begin Monday

Batten down the hatches in Long Branch. Purple Line construction crews will be working tomorrow, and every Saturday through August, on the Plymouth Street tunnel for the light rail project. Things will take a turn for the worse Monday, however, when blasting of rock will begin.

Purple Line Transit Partners says blasting will only be performed when crews encounter rock conditions in the tunnel area that cannot be removed through other means. When this happens, they say, they will then give neighbors a 24-hour alert that blasting will occur. Blasting will continue for approximately nine months.

When completed, the Plymouth Street tunnel will extend from East Wayne Avenue to Arliss Street in Long Branch.