Blasting begins for new Garðabær neighbourhood

Drilling and blasting for the development of Arnarland, a planned new neighbourhood in Garðabær, will begin on Friday and continue over the next two months, mbl.is reports. Blasting will not take place every day during that period.

According to a notice from Garðabær municipality, all blasts will be covered with blasting mats. Vibration monitors have also been installed to track the effects of the blasts and ensure that vibration levels remain within regulatory limits.

Three short warning signals will sound before each blast, followed by a pause of about one minute before the charge is detonated. A single long signal will sound after the blast has been completed. Construction company Borgarvirki is responsible for the work.

Arnarland is planned between Arnarnes and Smárahverfi. Once fully built, the neighbourhood is expected to include around 450 homes and approximately 36,000 square metres of commercial space.

Work began in the area earlier this month, with heavy machinery building large gravel piles and road construction getting under way. Garðabær mayor Almar Guðmundsson said earlier this month that the first building construction would likely begin this winter.

The development will be divided into two main sections. Commercial buildings of up to seven storeys are planned near Hafnarfjarðarvegur, including a 26,500 square metre health cluster, as well as office, service and retail premises and a preschool.

The planned city line route will run east of the commercial buildings. East of the line, apartment buildings between two and six storeys high are planned.