It's official, the English Bay Barge won't make it to the end of the summer.
On June 29 the City of Vancouver announced work will begin this week at the site as safety barriers and fences are set up. Then temporary piles will be installed to secure the barge.
Once that has been finished, work will begin on the actual deconstruction of the barge, which will see it cut apart, put on a barge and transported to a staging area. In the end, the barge will be processed and recycled.
"The barge removal has been carefully planned in consultation with industry experts, partners and First Nation groups. Hazardous material, archeological and structural assessments have been completed to ensure the sensitive marine environment is protected," says the city in a press release.
The city says work will take place Monday to Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
"The work will have minimal impact to park activities and is expected to take approximately 12-15 weeks to complete once deconstruction has begun," says the City. "The seawall will remain open during this time and there will be no impacts to traffic or parking in the area."
The barge has been in place more than 225 days, having arrived during a windstorm Nov. 15, 2021. Since then it's become an iconic sight for some and an eyesore for others.
