Apr 21, 2008 - 12:56:36 CDT
FARGO (AP) — Workers building a $25 million hockey arena got to the site Monday and found vandals had started up a huge crane on the floor, raised the boom and bent a beam supporting the roof.Construction site manager Trevor Speidel said the vandals also used the crane to smash a concrete block, shattered windows and threw equipment off the roof of the Urban Plains center, punching a hole in the concrete below.
The vandalism likely happened late Sunday night or early Monday, Speidel said.
"They didn't understand the controls (of the crane)," Speidel said. "If that crane would have been a little bit farther back, they would have tore that whole beam down."
It could have created a domino effect, "and you'd probably have lost half the building," Speidel said.
Structural engineers are coming to take a closer look at the damage, he said. He expected it would delay work on the arena, which had been set to open Oct. 31.
"I would say in excess of $500,000, probably," Speidel said, referring to a preliminary damage assessment.
Comments are reviewed for taste, tone and language before posting.
Some comments may be used in the Tribune's print edition.
We value and respect your privacy, but The Bismarck Tribune might
disclose certain information to governmental entities if served with subpoena.