‘Controlled demolition’ to take down grandstand
As the deconstruction of old Mosaic Stadium continues, the west-side grandstand will be brought down in a controlled demolition on Friday. Here’s what you need to know if you want to watch a piece of Regina’s history tumble to the ground. Q Where can I
A The public viewing area is along Retallack Street on the east side of the old stadium, south of the east seats and further south toward 10th Avenue and North Railway Street. A The stands will be torn down by what’s being called a “controlled demolition.” Essentially, the grandstand will be toppled over onto what was the football field. Much of the support structure on the lower half of the grandstand and the concrete ramps on the west side have already been removed. A berm will be built to minimize impact and vibrations. A The east-side stands are the next big project as part of the demolition. They will be taken down using high-reach excavators. The deconstruction will continue through the rest of the year, and all above-grade elements are expected to be gone by the end of 2017. The City of Regina estimates the total demolition of the stadium will create 250,000 tonnes of concrete, 1,538 tonnes of steel, 3,280 tonnes of asphalt, 108 tonnes of wood and 824 tonnes of other construction material (altogether that’s more than 550 million pounds of material). The city says at least 97 per cent of that will be diverted from the landfill.
Q
What exactly is coming down on Friday? A The west-side grandstand was the first permanent seating at what would come to be known as Taylor Field and Mosaic Stadium.
The first seats were constructed in 1948, with an addition being built in 1958. The upper deck was constructed in time for the start of the 1979 CFL season. Half the $9-million price tag for the upper deck was covered by the city. A The demolition might have to be rescheduled. According to the city and contractor Budget Demolition “wind direction and speed must be optimal for the collapse to occur.”