Ashley Ford
Province
Over the last 13 months, Vancouver Pile Driving has thumped in 1,443 land and marine piles –with the deepest, a marine pile, going down 56 metres — at the new convention- centre construction site in Vancouver’s Coal Harbour. Finally, residents will no longer have to endure the daily noise. Photograph by : Les Bazso, The Province
Aaah! The sounds of silence.
Downtown Vancouverites who have been living with a ringing in their ears for the last 13 months can now rest easy.
The massive pile-driving program for the Vancouver Convention Centre Expansion Project has been successfully completed.
Vancouver Pile Driving has thumped in 1,443 land and marine piles, with the deepest, a marine pile, going down 56 metres.
“The completion of pile driving represents a major milestone in the construction of the expansion,” said Russ Anthony, president and project director of the $565-million development.
“It’s been a unique and sometimes challenging site for pile driving, particularly as we’re building over both land and water. In addition, much of the site is fill and contains almost 100 years of debris, everything from broken concrete to rail lines and docks.”
“The pile driving was a disruptive but necessary part of the project,” Anthony acknowledged
“However, we’re building a unique facility on one of the world’s most spectacular waterfronts. As a result, we want to thank our residential and business neighbours for their ongoing support.”
He said the ambitious project is on schedule. Foundation concrete is being poured and the steel frame for the centre will start to rise this fall.
The project, to be completed in 2008, will triple existing convention space and serve as the international broadcast and media centre for the 2010 Winter Olympics.
© The Vancouver Province 2006
