They were supposed to last about 40 years. Instead, they lasted about 71 years. With their service now complete as of last fall, the three 3.66 metre in diameter and 1.1 km long woodstave penstocks will begin to be removed this week. “They have always been of great interest to people either when driving over the Brewster Lake Road bridge or walking across them on the pedestrian crossing to the Elk Falls suspension bridge,” said BC Hydro spokesperson, Stephen Watson. “What are those massive things for? How were they made? What kind of wood is it? Some people even prefer the characteristics and views of the penstocks over Elk Falls.” The penstocks were built out of old growth Douglas Fir and were made on the site. The first one was built in 1947, the second in 1949 and the last a few years later as the John Hart facility was slowly built as the surrounding community grew to take up the power generation. Over the years, until around the 1980s, the penstocks were sprayed with creosote to act as a wood preservative. They were in poor condition and were replaced last October by the new underground tunnel and powerhouse. “We’ve had a lot of feedback over the years that we should save a section for interpretive value,” said Watson. “The reality is the exterior wood and some seepage into the wood means it must be properly disposed. It’s not salvageable. The wooden timbers from the penstocks will be properly disposed at potentially three approved sites in the Campbell River area, with the primary one being the Upland Landfill.”
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