The early work to take down the collapsed construction site of the Hard Rock hotel is imminent, people on the project told area residents in a conference call today.
WWL-TV reports work to take down buildings in the so-called "red zone" could be started as soon as tomorrow, beginning with 1022 Iberville Street, a property next door to the Hard Rock.
"It's probably going to take a couple of days to get that building down," said engineer Walter Zehner.
Crews will then get to work on 1027 Canal St. and 1019-1025 Canal St., two other properties adjacent to the site at 1031 Canal St. that need to come down before work on the collapsed structure can begin.
Then later this month, work will begin to remove part of the tower crane that was dropped onto the collapse site last year in a controlled implosion on October 20. Part of that crane still extends out over Canal St.
Recovery of the bodies of Jose Ponce Arreola and Quinnyon Wimberly, two of three men killed in the October 12 collapse, could be complete by June, clearing the way for the demolition of the rest of the site.
The entire job could be done by October.