By Patrick Burles - @PatrickBurles on Twitter

Removal of broadcast tower marks the end of an era

Dec 23, 2016 | 3:28 PM

LETHBRIDGE – After decades of transmitting from the top of the Sandman Hotel, the tower came down Friday morning (Dec. 23).

The tower was erected in the early 1970’s, but came to the end of it’s life cycle as the Country 95-5 and B-93 studios moved from the hotel to brand new offices in the RBC Royal Bank building at 410 – 7th St. South on December 12.

Bringing the tower down required Waybest Tower Inc. – a specialized crew from Medicine Hat – to remove the structure in several stages, with the pieces then being lowered by a massive crane.

Country 95-5 and B-93 engineer, Ross Wells, commented on the change, which left a notable hole in the Lethbridge skyline.

“It’s been a landmark for people for so many years and people have so many memories of the tower,” explained Wells. “People use it to give a frame of reference for travelling for people coming into town. Turn here, turn there at the hotel. People recognize the tower.”

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After watching the Waybest crew climb the tower and work in the cold weather to lower it, Wells discussed the process, and noted with a smile that he’s happy to have it finished.

“My first thought was, I’m glad I’m not doing it,” Wells said of Friday morning’s job. “It was getting a hold of the right people, people who are experienced at this, and they had no hesitation whatsoever at tackling this job. They had it easy with the crane.”