Demolition of the collapsed crane blocking West 41st Avenue has begun.

On August 21, two weeks after the crane fell onto the main thoroughfare, the City of Vancouver announced that it had begun removing the twisted metal debris.

“We expect the demolition and crane removal to take two to three days. After that, the city can assess the damage to public infrastructure and begin repairs,” the city’s chief construction official, Saul Schwebs, said in an email to VIA.

“Our aim is to minimise impact on residents and traffic and to complete all restoration work as quickly and safely as possible.”

Exactly how long it will take to remove the crane, repair the road and reopen it to traffic is unclear, but the city says residents should expect traffic to be impacted for at least another week.

“Part of the complexity is that the crane is currently structurally sound, however, as workers begin dismantling, the weight balance may shift, potentially causing instability,” the email said. “We are working with the appropriate partners to ensure a thorough and careful plan is in place to ensure safety throughout the process.”

There are currently still diversions around the crane.

The fire investigation is ongoing.