Kirsten Murphy
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Oct 08/01) - The public will get an advance warning when Kudlik Construction blows 2,500 kilograms of expired dynamite into dust this month.

That wasn't the case on Aug. 22, when only emergency and government officials were informed. The blasts were so jarring the city ordered Kudlik Construction to stop work. Residents were left baffled and somewhat disturbed by the unadvertised explosions five kilometres away.

Gilles Simard, Kudlik Construction's manager, said radio announcements and ads will be placed. He could not commit to a date.

"Maybe in a couple of weeks," he said. "This time we will advise the population. Last time we were advised not to."

The expired and unpredictable explosives are being destroyed under federal regulation. The blasting is site near the North 40 Road, in Iqaluit's industrial district. One reason for the stop-work order in August was to protect employees at a nearby asphalt plant. Officials feared two boiling vats of oil were at risk of spilling.

However, with the plant's seasonal closure -- and road paving complete for the year -- blasting is set to resume.

In a separate contract, Kudlik Construction was using dynamite to make way for Nav Canada's new radar tower site earlier this month.

"It's totally separate," Simard said of the two projects.