The crane truck that tipped over on Lochside Drive on Jan. 24, is to be removed this week.
Monday, Ted Robbins, general manager of Integrated Water Services for the Capital Regional District (CRD) announced a plan to remove the vehicle by the end of the week. The owner of the crane truck has the responsibility to move it but matters have been complicated by the truck’s position. When the truck toppled over it came to rest about a metre from the water main responsible for all of the Saanich Peninsula’s water. Dragging the truck would risk damaging this main and result in a loss of service to much of the Peninsula.
“Due to the owner’s inactivity over this period we have agreed to take the lead in moving the crane,” said Robbins.
The CRD’s plan is to use two large cranes to lift the vehicle straight-up and then lay it to rest in a prepared area away from the water main.
Preparations on site are to be conducted Tuesday with the removal of the crane on Wednesday and clean up the site on Thursday. Robbins said as a precaution they would shut off the water so that they can work around the water main safely. He said that there would be no loss of service for customers as they would engage the emergency storage supplies during that time.
Robbins beleives some fluid has leaked from the crane but “not in significant quantities.” He noted the Ministry of the Environment has been in contact with the crane owner and the site has been accessed by ICBC and Stantec, an environmental consultant, over the past week.
These agencies will assist the CRD on Thursday when they seek to clear up any contaminated ground or surface water.
A section of Lochside Drive, where the truck is located, is planned to be closed between Feb.5 and 7 so that crews can complete the removal and clean-up work.
The crane came to be on its side due to an accident on Jan. 24, when the 60-tonne heavy-lift crane pulled over to the side of the road to let a car pass. The narrow grass shoulder collapsed under its weight and the truck tipped onto its side in an agricultural field.
- With files from Nina Grossman and Keri Coles