Early Morning Construction
By Jeff Moffitt
@moffittjc (121659)
Gainesville, Florida
October 7, 2023 9:53am CST
...or Jackasses with a jackhammer!
The neighborhood I live in is heavily lined with mature live oak trees along the sidewalks and roadways. And anyone who knows about large trees and sidewalks, is that eventually the tree roots will push up and crack the sidewalks, leaving unsafe conditions.
Crews have been working in our area this week to remedy the situation, by breaking up and removing all the dangerous concrete sections, leveling out the area, and then repairing the concrete to make the sidewalks smooth and safe again. A task I very much support.
But working on an early Saturday morning running jackhammers at around 8:00am? That's not cool. One, it's the weekend, let people sleep. And two, what are city crews doing working on a weekend anyway?
Luckily for me, I was up before the crack of dawn this morning, so I was already up and awake when the noise started. But I feel bad for everyone else who was trying to sleep in.
Has this ever happened to you when you were trying to rest or sleep? Another example I can think of is when lawn maintenance crews show up at sunrise and start cutting lawns. Come on people, use common sense! There should be laws that crews can't conduct noisy operations unless it's between the hours of 9am-5pm, when most people are at work. And no making noise on weekends!
19 people like this
18 responses
@FourWalls (68902)
• United States
7 Oct 23
Don’t you wish you could find the commissioner in charge of this, go to his/her house, and run a jackhammer at 2 AM?
3 people like this
@FourWalls (68902)
• United States
7 Oct 23
@moffittjc — sure, I’ll be right over.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121659)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Oct 23
@FourWalls Okay, I'll wait for you to get here. Just to warn you though, it's homecoming this weekend at the University of Florida, so that traffic will be much worse than it normally is.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121659)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Oct 23
Hey, that's a great idea! Now why didn't I think of that? Do you want to join me on this escapade? I know you'd be the perfect accomplice for the job.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (38569)
•
8 Oct 23
Our area is getting new fiberoptic cable installed. Jackhammers are a way of life, they've trashed sidewalks, etc. and made a ton of racket. They do come back and patch the sidewalks, but then there is another mess and more noise. Ah, progress. Sometimes, progress is basically a pain in the rear.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121659)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Oct 23
It's like that with road construction. As soon as they finish the work, they discover something else they need to add or install. Oh, let's run another sewer line under the road. Oh, let's widen the lanes. Oh, we forgot the water main. Oh, now we need an HOV lane. It's never ending when it comes to roadwork.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121659)
• Gainesville, Florida
11 Oct 23
@MarieCoyle It is much the same here with road construction. It’s frustrating how long it takes, but we have to keep in mind they are trying to do all that work while the interstates are still open. The work would be much faster if they could just shut the interstates down, but we both know that will never happen.
My biggest beef with the authorities is they don’t plan for future growth, they just keep trying to play catch-up. For example, they’ll widen a highway from 2 lanes in each direction to 3 lanes to relieve current traffic congestion, but we all know that by the time they finish adding that 3rd lane they’re going to need a 4th lane. But they never think that far ahead.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (38569)
•
8 Oct 23
@moffittjc
They have been working on I 57 here forever! There are always blocked lanes, detours, and of course since half of the people won't slow down in a construction zone, wrecks and deaths. We have several way too busy interchanges not far from me. One, they are building numerous extra lanes, several overhead lanes, massive construction--they said it would take 2 years to do. We just started the 3rd year, and I don't see it getting done for at least another year. What a snarl. And if you take one of the surrounding ''little'' highways to avoid the mess, usually they are just choked up with traffic and a lot of angry drivers who are mad about all the construction work. Hey, you wanted it fixed. We had many people die on that interchange due to the excess traffic. Good things take time.
If only the people would slow down and take better care, more of them would be alive.
1 person likes this
@much2say (55905)
• Los Angeles, California
7 Oct 23
I suppose they think that's the day/time that people won't be around so they could do their work 
. Is it the city that is doing that sidewalk work? I am amazed . . . because out here it's totally like that everywhere with the big rooted trees and sidewalks - but no one is going to touch that because it's too costly. Anyway, yes, this happened this morning here . . . the house in back of us has been sold and their contractors have been doing their thing since 7am. The guys have been whistling and talking really loudly since about 6am - our yards are not big so it's been highly annoying to hear all that. Grrrrrr.
. Is it the city that is doing that sidewalk work? I am amazed . . . because out here it's totally like that everywhere with the big rooted trees and sidewalks - but no one is going to touch that because it's too costly. Anyway, yes, this happened this morning here . . . the house in back of us has been sold and their contractors have been doing their thing since 7am. The guys have been whistling and talking really loudly since about 6am - our yards are not big so it's been highly annoying to hear all that. Grrrrrr.1 person likes this
@much2say (55905)
• Los Angeles, California
13 Oct 23
@moffittjc Lucky! I wish we had that here! I think the city wants property owners to pay for the sidewalk repairs 
. Nearly every house has messed up sidewalks, thanks to ill planning of trees that eventually grew gigantic roots. It was not like this when I was growing up . . . we could ride bikes and skate on sidewalks no problem. But these days there are massive sidewalk hills with asphalt bandaids - makes it even more dangerous. Ugh.
. Nearly every house has messed up sidewalks, thanks to ill planning of trees that eventually grew gigantic roots. It was not like this when I was growing up . . . we could ride bikes and skate on sidewalks no problem. But these days there are massive sidewalk hills with asphalt bandaids - makes it even more dangerous. Ugh.1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121659)
• Gainesville, Florida
15 Oct 23
@much2say If the city planted those trees that are now causing sidewalk issues, then I would think legally that the city would be responsible for repairing the sidewalks. The uneven surfaces is a safety issue, and can bring on some serious lawsuits if not corrected.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121659)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Oct 23
Yes, it's city crews doing the work. I think the city got sued many years back for neglecting to repair a sidewalk, and so they created a crew that does nothing but go around the city and fix sidewalks. That way, they can now show in a court of law that they are doing everything they can to keep sidewalks in good shape and keep people safe from injury.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (90294)
• Arvada, Colorado
7 Oct 23
I think its happened a few times living in various places, but usually that is the least of my worries.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121659)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Oct 23
Well then, if that's the least of your worries, what's the most of your worries?
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121659)
• Gainesville, Florida
10 Oct 23
@RebeccasFarm Oh goodness. Did you ever report them to the authorities?
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121659)
• Gainesville, Florida
12 Oct 23
@RebeccasFarm Well that sucks. Sorry you had to deal with all that.
1 person likes this
@porwest (92463)
• United States
7 Oct 23
Not always. I live on a fairly quiet street that if you didn't know you were in the city you'd swear to be looking for cows or pigs or runaway chickens. But there is the occasional something or other going on, and it irks me. There was a tree chipper running not too far away last week and it was only irritating me because I was trying to do a YouTube video and had to wait for the noise to end.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121659)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Oct 23
We don't get a lot of noise in our neighborhood either most of the time, except when occasional work is being done. I live in the back of a gated community, so it is relatively peaceful and quiet. Really the only thing I can hear on a normal basis is the sirens of emergency vehicles when they are passing by on the main road out in the front of our development.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121659)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Oct 23
@porwest My investments have served me well over the years.
1 person likes this
@porwest (92463)
• United States
7 Oct 23
@moffittjc I prefer quiet. But of course I also know "life happens," and sometimes that life that happens requires some level of noise.
Gated community, hey? Hmm. Explains why you can afford to go to Disney so much. 
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (87855)
• Bangalore, India
7 Oct 23
Well, I wake up at 5 on weekdays and 7 on weekends. But I know that most like to relax and sleep late. Our apartment does not allow any noisy work on weekends. We have metro constructions going on next to our apartment. It's not so noisy bur yes we do get a lot of dust.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121659)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Oct 23
I normally get up at 5:30am on weekdays, but I do like to sleep in a little later on weekends. Sometimes I'll sleep as late as 10:00am, depending on what time I went to bed the night before. I would hate to be woken up so early on those mornings.
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (87855)
• Bangalore, India
9 Oct 23
@moffittjc Anyone would hate to be woken with such noise especially on weekends. They could start the work a little late around noon time.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121659)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Oct 23
@arunima25 Noon time sounds great! Now that’s a work time I can agree with!
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (181986)
• United States
7 Oct 23
Ohh yes, around here they love to start their construction projects at first light...which may be around 6AM in the summer at least..No one seems to believe in sleeping in around here..Quite annoying. They were waking on a house not too far away in this development last summer and it was hammer, hammer, bang, bang, saw, saw for hours starting then. I guess I should be happy they weren't using a jackhammer!
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (181986)
• United States
7 Oct 23
@moffittjc Hot in the summer here too, but I don't think that is why they strart so early...probably trying to get as much done as possible during the day. They may have been behind on the construction time or something.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121659)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Oct 23
@snowy22315 Yes, that's often the case as well. I know when I worked for municipal government many of our contracts stipulated deadlines that the work had to be completed by, or else the companies would face fines for each day they went over the deadline. But in this case, it's city workers who are on the job, and we all know that city workers are never in a hurry to get anything done. So why are they working on the weekend?
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121659)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Oct 23
I hate that workers start so early, but on the flip side I can understand why they do so here in Florida. It get's super hot in the afternoon (even now in October), so I know those crews who work outside all day long want to work in the coolest conditions possible, which would mean early mornings. But there has to be some kind of compromise to protect the peace and quiet in neighborhoods!
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (51472)
• Canada
7 Oct 23
We have a by-law against making unnecessary loud noises early on the weekend days.
And that includes municipal employees as well as home owners.
It is a big no-no, especially in weather when it is warm enough that some sleep with their windows open.
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (51472)
• Canada
8 Oct 23
@moffittjc Remember citizens can suggest ideas to be made into bylaws.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121659)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Oct 23
That should be a law everywhere!
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (50604)
• United States
24 Oct 23
It is most annoying to be woke up by loud sounds.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121659)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 Oct 23
I hate being startled awake by loud sounds, because you wake up confused and not sure what is going on.
@wolfgirl569 (107902)
• Marion, Ohio
7 Oct 23
Things like that seldom happen in the middle of nowhere.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121659)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Oct 23
The benefits of living in the boonies! lol
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121659)
• Gainesville, Florida
11 Oct 23
Yes, I agree! It definitely gets the day started negatively, especially when it interrupts your sleep.
@moffittjc (121659)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Oct 23
I thought we had such a law here in my city as well, but if we do nobody seems to be following it.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121659)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Oct 23
@just4him Yeah, me too. I guess construction companies don’t care about being considerate anymore.
1 person likes this
@just4him (317249)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
9 Oct 23
@moffittjc I'm sorry no one is following it.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (181320)
• United States
8 Oct 23
We're lucky. This is a very quiet neighborhood; and our lawn crew doesn't come before 11 am. Not that I'm ever sleeping; but hubs might be. Maybe they didn't have anyone available to come during the week. They could have waited until 9 though. Have a good day.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121659)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Oct 23
Thankfully they worked very quickly and it was only that one day of noise.
1 person likes this
@Fa_Maverick (9487)
• Australia
14 Oct 23
We have laws against it... Doesn't stop them though...
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121659)
• Gainesville, Florida
14 Oct 23
Hi Fae! Good to see you here. Hope life has been treating you well. I miss my favorite Australian!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121659)
• Gainesville, Florida
15 Oct 23
@Fa_Maverick Aw, that made me feel special! I’m sorry about C, but I know you will bounce back better than ever!
1 person likes this
@Fa_Maverick (9487)
• Australia
14 Oct 23
@moffittjc eh life has been okay. Finding my feet after C of course.
Ive missed you too, part of the reason I am back.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160883)
• United States
7 Oct 23
Years ago we had to have one or two sidewalk squares resettled like that. No jackhammers, and we had to either do the work ourselves or pay for it, no one in the city paid. Yes, I have been woken up early by work crews and sometimes even kept awake late by the same.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121659)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Oct 23
Not too long ago our neighbors had their roof on their house re-done. The crew was there until the last bit of sunlight finally disappeared, so somewhere around 8 or 8:30 at night. It was ridiculous hearing them out there pounding nails into the roof at that time of the evening.
@ptrikha_2 (47064)
• India
7 Oct 23
Even here, there are rules due to which such construction work is not generally done on the weekends when it is early morning.
May be the Contractor was in a hurry in your place was in a hurry due to his own thinking or due to some contractual obligation.
Still I hope that this does not gets repeated.
Sometimes repair and construction work in close vicinity disturbs but not during the sleep hours.
@Marilynda1225 (83074)
• United States
7 Oct 23
That is very annoying to be woken up to the sound of jackhammers, lawn mowers or any other noise early in the morning. Our lawn crew isn't allowed to start mowing until 8am and many time I think this is still too early but most people are up by then (except me)
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