Tuesday, September 24, 2024 
Tuesday, September 24, 2024
July 22, 2019
As reported on iPolitics.ca, more headaches, literally, are stacking up as heavy trucks rumble around Parliament Hill while construction continues near West Block, the temporary home of the House of Commons.
Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) has confirmed excavators and heavy trucks on temporary roads above the West Block’s underground visitor welcome centre are so heavy they’re making the room’s ceilings vibrate.
The department says it’s unaware of reports the movement and noise set off security metal detectors at screening points, but a spokesperson revealed it has “affected” nearby video projectors set up for tourists.
Two staffers on the Hill wondered whether enough planning went into the construction of the road and work area above the centre, through which hundreds of visitors pass each week during House sittings and also in the summer tour season.
But PSPC says there are no safety risks.
“I’ve confirmed that there is heavy construction equipment and vehicles temporarily working in the vicinity of the Visitor Welcome Centre for the rehabilitation of the public washrooms,” department spokesman Charles Drouin said in an email response to questions from iPolitics.
Drouin was referring to not just a rehabilitation of the spacious public lavatories that once were buried in the hillside north of West Block, but a massive cement version of new toilets and sinks, nearing completion stages.
“The construction equipment in question is large tracked vehicles such as excavators,” said Drouin.
“Vibrations are normal when heavy construction equipment is operating on top of a structure,” he explained.
“There are no safety or structural concerns related to the vibrations (but) it has been reported that vibrations are affecting the video projectors adjacent to the Visitor Welcome Centre Boutique.”
The email did not elaborate on where heavy construction equipment would normally operate on top of a structure.
