Demolition of the Eastglen Water Tower, a fixture of Westlock’s skyline since 1969, now appears likely for the end of the month.
Town of Westlock director of development services Simone Wiley told councillors at their Nov. 13 meeting that the 30-metre tower is slated to meet the wrecking ball the week of Nov. 26, while commissioning of the municipality’s new $6.33 million underground water reservoir expansion project starts this week, Nov. 19. In early October Wiley told council that the demolition had been tentatively pushed back until early 2019.
“The entire project is nearing the end for substantial completion. The tower is set to come down this year and right now they are working on their road closure documents and safety plan that they have to submit to us,” said Wiley.
“The commissioning is mostly on the electrical and mechanic side of things and will start Nov. 19 if all goes according to their plan. There will be no interruption in service at all.”
Tendered for $4.41 million, there are also engineering services, materials testing and utility servicing and relocations that are not included. Pomerleau Inc. was awarded the contract in February and broke ground on the project in the spring.
The project’s total cost is $6.33 million, with $3.14 million coming from the Clean Water and Wastewater Fund, a federal grant, $1.7 million from the town’s capital reserves and $284,600 from the Westlock Regional Water Services Commission.
The municipality will borrow the remaining $1.2 million.
The tower has shown its age over the last half decade as the town was forced to cover it with netting in 2015 after debris began falling off and endangered residents and property — the net was replaced last November at a cost of $20,000.
As well, a previous engineering report stated the tower was leaking near its base and “if the water tower is allowed to deteriorate any further in its current condition, the structural integrity of the tower will be compromised.”
