The crane which has towered over the hospital since January, 2010 disappeared over the weekend.
Starting on Saturday, PCL Construction dismantled the tower crane which played a key role in the construction of the hospital parkade and B.C. Cancer Agency Centre for the North. Northern Cancer Control Agency chief project officer Hal Collier said the removal of the crane marks a new phase in construction of the clinic, which is expected to open its doors in 2012.
"Every major part of the project was hauled by that crane," Collier said. "All of the concrete, all of the big beams, all the steel girders."
The tower crane was centrally located on the site, which allowed it to serve the parade and cancer clinic projects without being relocated.
"Right now it's literally poking up through a hole in the underground parking," Collier said. "When they installed it, they dug 20 to 30 feet down into the parking lot to anchor it. [Now] they'll pull it out, remove all the framing, concrete over the hole and you won't even be able to tell it was there."
The crane operated every day it was here -unless it was -25 C or colder, he said.
"You used to be able to tell the temperature in Prince George... if the crane wasn't working, it was a cold day," Collier said. "The crane operator, the poor guy, climbed up at the beginning of the day and he's up there 10-12 hours a day."
