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Next Construction Phase Begins in PGII

First round of concrete 'shot blasting' starts soon

Construction efforts will continue this month at Parking Garage II, which has been in the process of renovation since July. Photo by Bryan Roth.
Construction efforts will continue this month at Parking Garage II, which has been in the process of renovation since July. Photo by Bryan Roth.

Duke employees and visitors who use Parking Garage II will hear a new round of construction as part of ongoing renovations to the garage.

Beginning Jan. 6, crews will be "shot blasting" the concrete pavement of the garage in order to prepare areas for striping and other surface treatments. It's the latest step as part of $9 million in upgrades that began in July.

Shot blasting consists of "blasting" concrete with small projectiles in order to smooth concrete. The work will be very loud, so Parking and Transportation Services will provide free disposable earplugs upon request to motorists parking in the garage. The earplugs will be available at attendant booths at Parking Garage II and in Duke Clinic room 04230, next to the bookstore. A location will soon be set up in Duke Hospital for earplug pickup as well.

Crews will work 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Shot blasting will occur at intervals on different portions of levels over the next few months.

"As a restoration project, we're going through these renovations to extend the life of the garage and ensure that it remains structurally sound," said Melissa Harden, director of strategies for Parking and Transportation Services. "We're also working to improve the look and feel with LED lights, new coats of paint, new security equipment and more."

Harden said work will be conducted in cordoned off areas of the garage, where parking and pedestrians will not be permitted. Temporary barriers around construction areas will reach from floor to ceiling, meaning that no damage will occur to vehicles and pedestrians will also be safe to walk about open areas of the garage.

Due to the loud noise of shot blasting work and the acoustics of the parking garage, reverberating sounds from construction has the potential to trigger sensitive car alarms.

For more information about the ongoing renovations and a tentative schedule of work in the garage, visit the Parking and Transportation Services website.