Community Corner

What Was That Loud Noise Last Night?

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Patch reader Amanda asks: Do you have any idea what that prolonged, loud noise was last night? It sounded like it was coming from the downtown area. I heard it around 3 a.m. and it lasted for a while. It sounded like a helicopter or a generator or an idling engine or something. I've talked to several people who heard it but nobody knows what is was.

To answer Amanda's question we went to Royal Oak Patch Facebook readers. Here is what they said:


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  • Matt Srugis: It's the big steam rollers on Woodward because they do most of the asphalt at night/early am. I figured it out last year when they repaved the turn arounds.
  • Alex Rucinski: Agree with Matt, the hydraulic vibratory rollers are the likely cause. They pave late at night due to reduced traffic so people don't drive on the fresh asphalt.
  • Michelle Harris: Yep, sounds like the work being done on Woodward. It's really loud and they are really only working at night.

UPDATE: Patch checked with MDOT spokesman Rob Morosi to find out if our Facebook readers were correct.  They were, he said.

"Due to the high traffic volumes we only allow 3-lane closures overnight," Morosi said, adding, "We obtained a noise ordinance waiver from the city prior to starting the job."


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