Those anticipating the blasting to be done in the Gateway 228 Project shouldn't expect a scene from a Hollywood action film.

Greg Schnur, senior civil engineer supervisor at the state Department of Transportation District 10, said dirt and rocks will not fly up in the air during the blasting, which will take place at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday on land near the northwest corner of Route 228 and Harbison Road in Middlesex Township.

“It seems exciting and really sounds cool, but it's not a big production,” Schnur said.

He explained that core borings during the initial phase of the $43.8 million project revealed an 8-foot deep bed of sandstone that cannot be removed with excavators and bulldozers.

The area is about 100 feet long.

“The only thing to do is blast,” Schnur said.

Crews from Independent Excavating will drill holes into the rock, which Schnur said gets harder the deeper it gets, and place cylindrical charges into the holes.

The charges will be set off, and the rock will be broken up, so it can be excavated and removed.

The blast radius will be 1,000 feet.

Schnur said there are homes within that radius that could potentially feel a minimal impact from the blast.

“But it's unlikely,” he said. “It's going to be more of a pop or a small noise.”

Schnur said crews may blast again Monday, depending on how this week's blasting goes.

“Once we start to excavate, we'll see what we have,” he said.

Traffic will be stopped for about 15 minutes between Harbison and Davis roads during the blast.

Schnur said those in their cars also may feel a small impact and hear a pop.

“It's not going to be like an earthquake,” Schnur said. “Maybe a mild movement.”

PennDOT crews will examine Route 228 after each blast to ensure debris is not obstructing the road surface.

Once it is determined the coast is clear, traffic will resume.

The Gateway 228 Project will eliminate two curves in the highway between Route 8 and Officer Ed Brooks Drive, including Balls Bend at the intersection of Davis Road.

The stretch of Route 228 also will be widened and upgraded for more efficient traffic movement.