Noisy roadworks - 10pm, outside my apartment!

Anarchist

Hey all,

Is there anything I can do about some really noisy roadworks that started at about 9:30, and are still ongoing, that are literally outside my apartment - probably 5m away?

Short of wandering out and shoving his angle grinder somewhere?

Ich_2

Depends what they are there for!

Anarchist

I've no idea what they are for, I wouldn't have thought it would be for an emergency as its just on a small bridge over a canal?

Theres been no notice or warning about them, they just popped up and started grinding chunks out the floor!

Person_one

If there's no notice its probably a response to an 'emergency'. Water/gas leak, an accident that's made the bridge unsafe maybe.

I doubt there's anything you can do. I once had workers right outside my flat for two straight weeks, it was during the day but I was working nights at the time. I recommend ear plugs and putting something dull on the radio at a medium volume.

Anarchist

There is a big difference between roadworks during the day when possibly one person is sleeping, and at 11pm at night when hundreds of people in the area are sleeping!

I'm not sure if its something most people have, but I don't have any ear plugs. Putting the radio on is also a bad idea, as creating more noise isn't going to help me to sleep I'm afraid!

Person_one

Anarchist wrote: »

There is a big difference between roadworks during the day when possibly one person is sleeping, and at 11pm at night when hundreds of people in the area are sleeping!

I'm not sure if its something most people have, but I don't have any ear plugs. Putting the radio on is also a bad idea, as creating more noise isn't going to help me to sleep I'm afraid!

If its an emergency though, they need to do it whatever the time, I'm afraid!

You must have seen works going on late at night before you've probably just never thought about it until its outside your window.

I mentioned my experience in order to give you tips that worked for me, the radio thing isn't about more noise, its about different noise that is less intrusive, I used boring radio 4 plays. But, hey, you don't have to try it if you're sure it won't work.

Ich_2

Generally if we have to excavate at night in an emergency we aim to get the really noisy stuff done as soon as possible. No organisation goes out to cause a disturbance but sometimes there is no choice

valk_scot

Have you thought about going over and asking them what's going on, and what time they're likely to knock off? You might feel more tolerant about the situation if you knew it was an emergency, say, and if they told you they were only going to be another couple of hours.

fluffnutter

Of course it's an emergency! Do you really think councils or utility companies will readily pay overtime so that a routine job can be done at night? It would cost them a fortune! Plus there are bylaws in place that prevent noisy work at night unless it's absolutely necessary.

valk_scot's advice is great. The more you can 'take control' of the situation, the better you tend to feel. I suspect this is all resolved now anyway...

Lindsay_C

My OH works on the gas and sometimes has to dig etc late at night due to a gas escape or major leak - it has to be done, the consequences if it isn't done are much higher than a bit of noise He gets abuse from people who tell him that he shouldn't be doing it, rather that than an explosion!

Have a bit of sympathy for them, they have usually started work at 7:30 and could be looking at a 24 hour shift....

Raksha

We had a large gas leak outside our house last month. It took nearly 3 weeks to trace, seal off and make good.