There were several types of activity at the site of the future True North Sports and Entertainment Centre this week. Excavators were digging the remaining seven to ten feet of earth from across the entire site down to the level of the future event floor. The mostly clay sub-soil was continuously hauled away in tandem trailer trucks.
Three drilling rigs were in operation boring deep into the earth down to the limestone bedrock for the pouring of the cement caissons that will soon support the foundation of the new facility. More than 40 of the 221 caissons have now been drilled and poured. The deepest drill hole to date reaches a depth almost 60 feet below what will become the event level floor.
Work also started to remove the pavement and cement base of part of Hargrave Street to expand the site along the future west side of the entertainment centre. The extra width will accommodate both the outer edge of the main concourse at street level and the skywalk connection above (linking the Portage Avenue skywalk around to Graham Avenue and Cityplace).
The building that stood on the west side of side of Hargrave between the former Eaton’s Powerhouse building and the Cityplace Parkade was also demolished this week. The brick structure formerly contained a hydro transformer that was abandoned when Eaton’s closed. This demolition clears the way for the excavation work for the ramp that will provide access to the entertainment centre event floor.
The ramp or tunnel will start on Carlton Street, run approximately 300 feet in length, and slope down under Hargrave Street to reach the entertainment centre “back of house” staging area. The ramp will provide access for service vehicles and the large semi-trailer trucks that will bring concerts, family shows and other events into True North in the future.
[MTS Centre Construction Archive]
