Due to an ongoing metro project, cracks have appeared on the walls of homes in Qingpu District. (Photo : www.scmp.com)
A safety inspection of residents’ homes took place on two residential blocks on Huake Road in Qingpu District on Tuesday to address complaints that an ongoing Metro Project is causing cracks on some buildings.
Last Sept. 11, construction work on an auxiliary bridge for Metro Line 17 was postponed due to several complaints from nearby residents that the project is causing damage to their homes, according to a report by Shanghai Daily.
Complaints are mainly coming from blocks 31, 38 and 39. The first two blocks, which are in the same building, have a total of 24 households and are only 20 meters away from the construction site.
"We were told the results of the inspection will be released on Oct. 8, after the National Day holiday. A decision will be taken later," said Wei Jundi, a resident.
Gao Bingqian, who lives in flat No. 102, showed a 40-centimeter crack on the marble base of his bedroom window. There were other visible cracks below the window as well and in other places in his house, according to the report.
"The machines they use are very powerful and you can feel the floor shaking when they are working. When we are having lunch, my elbows shake by the pounding noise," said the 66-year-old Gao.
An official with the construction company conceded that it is possible that damage is being caused by the workers' use of high-frequency vibration technology, but he added this may be the case for old buildings only.
"That is why we have asked the district housing management office to commission a third-party company to check the situations of the buildings," the official said.
He further added that if it is subsequently proven that the damages are caused by the construction work, the company would pay for repairs. However, the inspection company, Tongfeng Project Consulting Firm, which assessed the damage in blocks 38 and 39, declined to comment.
