Construction projects in Middle Tennessee regularly require excavation through bedrock usingexplosives. Vanderbilt and Belmont universities are currently involved in parking garage projects which call for such blasting.

Next Wednesday, Metro Councilman Keith Durbin, Vanderbilt University and BelmontUniversityinvite the public to attend a free, educational program on construction blasting. This multimedia educational program will be offered to the community to explain the scientific and regulatory aspects of construction blasting as well as techniques for ensuring that blasting is as safe as possible.

The program will be held in the Frist Lecture Hall on the fourth floor of the Inman Health Science Building at Belmont University at 6:30 p.m. Parking will be available in the garage located beneath the building, with access from Wedgewood Avenue.

The use of explosives in construction work requires considerable engineering knowledge of explosives, so there will be a number of expert presenters at the program.A question-and-answer session will conclude the event.

-- Vanderbilt News Service