Gravel pit neighbours say province not doing enough to address dust concerns

A complaint from a Calgary man shut down a southwest gravel pit on the weekend, giving neighbours temporary relief from the dust and noise of the ring road construction. 

But by Monday afternoon, the pit was back in operation, leaving residents wondering if anything has really been fixed.

Mack Kay's home, in the southwest community of Wentworth, is only 100 metres from the West Springs north gravel pit. Since the pit opened in April, he and his neighbours have been complaining to Alberta Transportation and their local MLA. But, he says, not enough is being done to alleviate their concerns.

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"They shut it down Saturday and Sunday. We understood it would shut down all day yesterday, but at 3 o'clock they were running again," Kay said.

"I was actually up there [Monday] and you could still see the dust pouring off it it, so I'm not sure what they've corrected or what they fixed, but I'm not sure that it worked."

Alberta Transportation said the contractor, KGL Constructors, is following guidelines set by Alberta Health, which allow total suspended particulate matter of 100 micrograms per cubic metre over 24 hours.

"We are monitoring the air quality out there to ensure that we are within threshold. And while we have had one or two days where we have been over, largely we're maintaining within that threshold and we make changes as required when we see an overage," said spokesperson Adam Johnson.

Johnson said that during the period the gravel pit was shut down, water sprinklers were put in place to suppress the dust coming off the gravel stockpiles and tarps were placed over the crusher to keep the dust contained.

For Kay, the dust and silt coming from the gravel pit is becoming a health concern. He said he's noticed it covering his deck and exterior of his house, but it's also getting inside — he said he's been forced to change his furnace filter every two months as it's getting plugged up quickly.

"If we're changing our furnace filter every two months because of the dust that's in it, the chances are pretty good that we're breathing it," he said.

The gravel pit will remain in business until construction of the ring road is complete in 2021. Alberta Transportation says residents should file their complaints with the contractor.

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