A recent structural assessment of the Expo 86 deck, which was built in 1984, shows problems
A section of the Expo 86 deck, located on the south side of Science World, was closed suddenly on Tuesday afternoon.
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According to a City of Vancouver statement, the decision was made “out of an abundance of caution from a recent structural assessment.”
“The closure will be in place while the city continues to assess the condition of the aging Expo deck structure that supports this segment of the seawall pathway,” it read.
This means that until further notice, the Vancouver seawall and Seaside Greenway Path will close between Creekside Community Centre and Science World.
A small portion of the deck between Science World and the Creekside Park Playground is also closed.
Pedestrians will be rerouted along sidewalks, while cyclists will detour along the bike lane on Ontario Street, the pedestrian path to Switchmen Street, and in the curbside southbound lane on Quebec.
Cyclists will be asked to dismount or slow their roll on the pedestrian path between Ontario and Switchmen streets.
The deck over the original foreshore on the east end of False Creek was built in the early 1980s in preparation for the Expo 86 World’s Fair.
The city says the underlying timber piles and cross beams supporting the deck have begun to degrade and there are plans to remove it and replace it with what will be called East Park.