Explosions connected to construction project frighten Raleigh residents

Duke Energy crews were called in to cut back a tree that fell onto some power lines after what as initially reported as an explosion in the north Raleigh area.

“It was just this loud, loud boom,” resident Vanessa Poston said.

“I don’t know what happened. It scared me so bad,” resident Martha Wilkins said.

Officials with the City of Raleigh said the blasting was associated with a construction project along Crabtree Creek, just off Anderson Drive. Crews were using explosives to cut through heavy rocks.

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Neighbors said they’re used to the constant noise, but that is nothing like what they heard and felt Wednesday.

“There was a huge noise. At the same time, the building started shaking. I came out of my chair, the building was just shaking,” Wilkins said.

The city did put up notices around the neighborhood about the planned blasting and there’s equipment with warning signals when a blast is about to happen.

“I missed the warning signals,” Poston said. “The entire condo shook and, right after that, the lights flickered. It was just very startling.”

Hours after the blast, some neighbors said they still felt unsettled by it.

“I think everything that’s gone on recently in Durham has everybody a little on edge. We all kind of looked over our shoulder for this one,” resident Heather Kraudel said.

A city spokesperson said the Fire Marshall and others are looking into what went wrong in the incident.