An icon from Expo 86 is going to find a temporary home in Maple Ridge.
On Tuesday, the aging structure that served as the ‘McBarge’ at Expo was towed beneath the Golden Ears Bridge and up to Supreme Structural Transport in the Albion Industrial Area.
The slow journey started the previous day after it finally left its long-time location in Burrard Inlet.
But Bruce Livingstone, business retention and expansion officer with the City of Maple Ridge, isn’t sure who’s going to be doing the actual repairs to the 30-year-old structure.
He pointed out that Supreme, just west of the old Albion ferry terminal on River Road, is a transport company and that the repairs might be done elsewhere in Maple Ridge.
Livingstone wonders about the final use of the refitted barge and its final location.
“Hopefully, the work stays here and keeps people busy for a while.”
Bill Christensen, with Supreme Structural, said the barge is just being moored on the company’s waterfront, although work could take place there.
“It’s just a parking spot.”
He said the mooring location could be leased for as long as a year.
The 57-metre, two-storey glass and metal barge was used as a floating MacDonald’s restaurant during the world’s fair, held on the shores of Vancouver’s False Creek in 1986.
It remained docked in False Creek for several years before complaints about its deteriorating condition prompted the move to Burrard Inlet.
After the failure of a previous plan to use McBarge as a pub in Mission, owner Howard Meakin isn’t releasing specifics about the vessel’s future, but predicts the refit will make it a popular attraction at its next location.
“I’m curious where it’s going next,” Livingstone said.
– with files from CP
