Water tower scheduled for demolition

The Ash Street water tower will be torn down, Nov. 8

The City of Greater Sudbury decided in January of this year to demolish the tower. The total cost of demolition is $191,500, and formed part of the 2011 municipal budget.

The Ash Street tank rises approximately 33.5 metres above ground level.

Due to the height of the structure, demolition will involve two cranes hoisting workers and equipment to the top of the tower.

The bowl portion of the tank will be cut into pieces and lowered inside the tank.

Once the roof and sides are removed, the remaining pieces will be lowered to the ground.

All pieces, approximately 100 tons of scrap metal, will then be loaded onto transport trucks and transferred to a steel mill in either Sault Ste. Marie or Hamilton.

It will take approximately three weeks to dismantle the structure and three weeks to remove the salvaged materials, including eight large concrete footings, and clean up.

The tank was slated for demolition due to its poor condition.

The cost to remediate the tower was far in excess the demolition costs.

Council has advised staff to investigate and report back on options for the site.

Posted by Mark Gentili