Concrete slab falls at Olympic Stadium parking lot

[kodiakTFC]

MONTREAL — Nobody was hurt when a massive chunk of concrete fell from the roof of the parking lot at the Olympic Stadium around 3:20 p.m. Sunday.

The chunk, which measures approximately 25 by 45 feet (eight by 15 metres), tumbled from a ceiling section that sits between two concrete beams at the entrance ramp of the parking lot at 3200 Viau.

Firefighters expressed concern that the weight of the fallen concrete could cause a secondary collapse of the ceiling of the second lot below.
"We're making sure that nobody goes around the site and the Olympic Installations Board called an engineer to come and make sure that everything is okay at the scene," said Benoit Brouillard Montreal Fire Department Operations Chief.

The stadium has been closed winters for several years now as fears of ice accumulating on the roof of the structure have led to fears of a roof collapse.

The collapse occurs in the midst of much discussion on how to re-purpose the Olympic Stadium and increase its usage during the winter months.

The Montreal Impact has been heavily promoting its first MLS home game at the stadium, set for March 17. There is no word as of yet on whether this latest development will require any scheduling change.

[Brooker]

Well, I suppose being drunk at a TFC game is a good way to die.

Bring it on.

[Whoop]

Again?

Didn't a slab fall there about a decade ago, from the actual stadium?

Montreal has construction issues.

Don't drive under a bridge!

[Oldtimer]

Organized crime was heavily involved in Quebec construction for the longest time. I think there's been an enquiry going on into this.

[kodiakTFC]

Again?

Didn't a slab fall there about a decade ago, from the actual stadium?

Montreal has construction issues.

Don't drive under a bridge!

I lived there for four years (06-10) and here is what I recollect.

1. Highway bridge collapsed.
2. Cracks in McGill and Peel metro celings
3. Piece of hotel fell of the side of the building and crushed a couple eating outside.
4. Big O roof issues

Since I've left

5. Massive piece of underground tunnel ceiling fell onto the highway below, no one hurt but if this was during rush hour.. jesus.
6. Big O parking lot collapse

Probably missed some but Quebec is in dire need of some help.

[kodiakTFC]

Organized crime was heavily involved in Quebec construction for the longest time. I think there's been an enquiry going on into this.

I've heard some crazy stories about the mob and how they would extort money from the government during the construction of the Big O.

Cement trucks would drive in, they would be tallied and marked for payment, the truck would drive out of the building and back around before being tallied a second time and finally dropping off the cement.

[rocker]

This is going to be a metaphor for the Impact's season...

[TFC/Everton]

Well, I suppose being drunk at a TFC game is a good way to die.

Bring it on.

Here. Here.

[Cashcleaner]

Organized crime was heavily involved in Quebec construction for the longest time. I think there's been an enquiry going on into this.

Unfortunately, they've been heavily involved in the courts and municipal politics for the longest time too.

Quebec: Corrupt as fuck, but don't ever tell them that or they'll whine about it for weeks and blame someone else.

[Beach_Red]

Organized crime was heavily involved in Quebec construction for the longest time. I think there's been an enquiry going on into this.

Montreal had a series of huge construction jobs through the 60s, starting with the Champlain Bridge, Expo 67, the Metro, the Expressway system culminating with the Olympics - they were all on deadlines and money was being thrown around. Yes, the mob got heavily involved (added to this, most of the police force's anti-organized crime personel were reassigned to anti-terrorism through most of the the 60s up to the October Crisis in 1970). Really, from a mob point of view you couldn't have planned it any better.

Still, this is why I'm glad Toronto didn't get the Olympics because it's naive to think that the mob didn't move to Toronto along with the rest of the businesses since '76.

We need a Sopranos-style show set in Montreal during the 60s - The Sopranos meets Mad Men.

[brad]

Good thing our construction standards in Toronto are so high....
http://www.thestar.com/news/article/...part-of-bay-st

[Roogsy]

Good thing our construction standards in Toronto are so high....
http://www.thestar.com/news/article/...part-of-bay-st

The glass issue does not seem to be a construction or quality standard problem, it seems to be a design flaw.

[tfcleeds]

This is going to be a metaphor for the Impact's season...

I'd like to believe this will be the case.

[brad]

The glass issue does not seem to be a construction or quality standard problem, it seems to be a design flaw.

Is that the case? I thought a lot of it had to do with developers cutting corners and importing cheaper less durable glass (maybe not on the article that that I posted but in some of the new build condo cases that have been happening recently).

[Roogsy]

I can't remember where I read it, but I thought I had seen that the developers were going to redesign the frame that holds the glass? Dunno...that may have just been PR.

[Waggy]

Is that the case? I thought a lot of it had to do with developers cutting corners and importing cheaper less durable glass (maybe not on the article that that I posted but in some of the new build condo cases that have been happening recently).

Dunno if that's really a comparable. That happened a few times and was fixed. It hasn't happened in quite a while. And someone could have gotten hurt, but parts of bridges and tunnels collapsing regularly is a FAR far bigger problem and waaaaaaaaayyy more dangerous. And WAY harder to fix, or rationalize.

[Roogsy]

I think quality and cheapness is always a concern, pretty much anywhere in this world, Toronto included. That's why you have to have oversight.

However, in Quebec the problem seems to be more acute and delves far deeper into the recesses of corruption and organized crime.

[james]

back in mid 90s i remember speakers falling from a section of the sky dome durring a blue jays game and some people got injured.


The big O is barely used so they probably haven't been keeping up on construction issues.

[Beach_Red]

I think quality and cheapness is always a concern, pretty much anywhere in this world, Toronto included. That's why you have to have oversight.

However, in Quebec the problem seems to be more acute and delves far deeper into the recesses of corruption and organized crime.

Yes, like I said, you need a convergence of circumstances for that kind of corruption to take root. If Toronto got the Olympics and decided on a massive subway expansion and huge infrastructure building at the same time then the same thing would happen here (it helps to throw in a terrorists group planting bombs and kidnapping people but the mob usually finds a way ).

[stugautz]

From the Montreal Gazette:

Dinh Khai Vo, a retired structural engineer, said the cave-in was likely caused by excessive weight related to construction work on the soccer stadium.

Construction crews should have installed a temporary beam to support the additional weight, he said. "There is no other obvious cause."

Dinh said the collapse should not lead the public to worry about the safety of the stadium since a construction error is likely to blame.

Read more: http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/...#ixzz1oG91c3TX

[james]

Montreal had a series of huge construction jobs through the 60s, starting with the Champlain Bridge, Expo 67, the Metro, the Expressway system culminating with the Olympics - they were all on deadlines and money was being thrown around. Yes, the mob got heavily involved (added to this, most of the police force's anti-organized crime personel were reassigned to anti-terrorism through most of the the 60s up to the October Crisis in 1970). Really, from a mob point of view you couldn't have planned it any better.

Still, this is why I'm glad Toronto didn't get the Olympics because it's naive to think that the mob didn't move to Toronto along with the rest of the businesses since '76.

We need a Sopranos-style show set in Montreal during the 60s - The Sopranos meets Mad Men.

Quebec had a big Hells angels problem as well, over 150 gang members got killed from both sides in the war against rival bikers Rock Machine in the mid to late 90's. Mobsters in Montreal had many ties with Hells Angels. Hells Angels then spread out to Ontario, how many biker gangs are in South Ontario im not sure but they deffinitly have some different chapters in places like London, Ontario and Toronto area. Today im not sure how much control the mobsters still have over Montreal as Nick Rizzuto and his god father both got murdered in recent years while Vito Rizzuto has been in jail for quite some time. Not sure if other gangs in Montreal are trying to take over or if its just anoter mob family trying to take over control of the city.

[jazzy]

Well, I suppose being drunk at a TFC game is a good way to die.

Bring it on.

guys that says it all......just don'twound me

[jloome]

Montreal had a series of huge construction jobs through the 60s, starting with the Champlain Bridge, Expo 67, the Metro, the Expressway system culminating with the Olympics - they were all on deadlines and money was being thrown around. Yes, the mob got heavily involved (added to this, most of the police force's anti-organized crime personel were reassigned to anti-terrorism through most of the the 60s up to the October Crisis in 1970). Really, from a mob point of view you couldn't have planned it any better.

Still, this is why I'm glad Toronto didn't get the Olympics because it's naive to think that the mob didn't move to Toronto along with the rest of the businesses since '76.

We need a Sopranos-style show set in Montreal during the 60s - The Sopranos meets Mad Men.

My mum lived in Montreal from '58 to '65. It was a hell of a town; celebs used to hang out there on days off.

You should write it as a two-hour pilot. Worth a pitch, all neon and thin lapels.

[james]

Montreal had a series of huge construction jobs through the 60s, starting with the Champlain Bridge, Expo 67, the Metro, the Expressway system culminating with the Olympics - they were all on deadlines and money was being thrown around. Yes, the mob got heavily involved (added to this, most of the police force's anti-organized crime personel were reassigned to anti-terrorism through most of the the 60s up to the October Crisis in 1970). Really, from a mob point of view you couldn't have planned it any better.

Still, this is why I'm glad Toronto didn't get the Olympics because it's naive to think that the mob didn't move to Toronto along with the rest of the businesses since '76.

We need a Sopranos-style show set in Montreal during the 60s - The Sopranos meets Mad Men.

a show like Boardwalk Empire would be the best example. They have had many movies based on New York and Chicago mobsters, i think plenty Mobster crime has happened in Montreal its about time they made a movie or show based on the Montreal gangsters. I think it would be cool to see.

[Red Rat]

Montreal wanted to blow up the Big O but advocates said that it will be impossible to blow it up since so much concrete was used???
Think again

[Rudi]

Montreal wanted to blow up the Big O but advocates said that it will be impossible to blow it up since so much concrete was used???
Think again

They can't implode it because there are two metro stations directly below.

The Big Owe would have to be taken apart piece-by-piece, which obviously causes labour costs to skyrocket. It's actually cheaper to keep it standing.

[Waggy]

They can't implode it because there are two metro stations directly below.

The Big Owe would have to be taken apart piece-by-piece, which obviously causes labour costs to skyrocket. It's actually cheaper to keep it standing.

Couldn't they do like what MSG is doing? Basically rebuild the stadium from the inside out? Turn a 60 000 hole in the ground into a 40 000 legit stadium? It'd cost a lot but if they cant tear it down better than turning into an albatross like the Memorial Aud in Buffalo that's still half standing

[Carefree]

We need a Sopranos-style show set in Montreal during the 60s - The Sopranos meets Mad Men.

There was one in the early 90s in French called Montréal Ville ouverte, though it was set in the 40s and 50s. It dealt mostly with organized crime's involvement in the prostitution trade (which was HUGE in Mtl back then) and how police eventually shut down the red-light district.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104913/

There was another one in the late 90s called Omerta that was more Soprano-like: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omerta_(TV_series)
I heard it was very good but I never watched it. This was around the time when I moved to Toronto and wasn't keeping up with Quebec television.

Organized crime has always been a big theme in Quebec TV and cinema.

[Roogsy]

Couldn't they do like what MSG is doing? Basically rebuild the stadium from the inside out? Turn a 60 000 hole in the ground into a 40 000 legit stadium? It'd cost a lot but if they cant tear it down better than turning into an albatross like the Memorial Aud in Buffalo that's still half standing

That's brutal.

[billyfly]

How will they take the CN Tower down if they ever have to?

That's what I wanna know.