RCI towers near Sackville coming down

The first of 13towers at the former RadioCanada International site outside Sackvillewill becoming down this week.

After budget cuts in 2012, CBC announced that the shortwave service would end after 67 years of broadcasting around the world.

At that time, CBC said it was trying to sellthe towers and land together because of the high costto dismantle the facility.

Larry Wartman, senior manager of transmission operations for Western and Atlantic Canada for CBC, says CBC has been unsuccessful in finding a buyer.

So far over 1000wooden poles and all of theantennasthat used to stretch between the steel towers have been taken down.

"Looks a little bit bare," Wortman said. "This week what we're going to start doing is taking down the steel towers which range anywhere from 200feet to about 450 feet so the first of those will be taken down probably tomorrow, or Wednesday."

Wortman says all of the towers have a series of guy wires at various levels of the tower connected to various anchor points on the ground.

"So what we have to do is loosen the tension on the majority of the guy wires and, similar to a lumberjack that's felling a tree, we keep the last one up and try to drop the tower in one direction."

Environmental considerations

Wortman says with a site that's been around for nearly 70 years you never know what you will find.

An environmental study has been completed on the grounds and the towers.

Wortman says all of thetowers will bedisposed of in accordance with environmental guidelines.

Some will be recycled and others, which containlead based paint, will be treated and taken to a proper facility for destruction.

"Barring any unforeseendifficulty I would say in the next three weeks they'll probably have all 13of them removed."

Wortman says the property will be offeredfor sale again once the towers are gone.

He says there are a couple of parties interested in the 222 acre property.

"It's part of history it's part of the culture of the community so it's tough to take something down that served such a purpose for the country you know during the Second World War...there's just not many of them around the world anymore."