IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – Idaho Falls continues to say good-bye to a beloved landmark.
Demolition of the 89-year-old water tower starts next week.
City officials say the change is necessary to plan for the area’s growth.
“So we have contractors who will be on site on Monday, and they will spend a few days getting the site prepped, putting up fencing, setting up their crane,” said Kimberly Felker, spokeswoman for the City of Idaho Falls. “Then on Friday, they will begin work to actually start bringing the tower down. Most of the tower will be brought down using a crane, and they’ll work from the top of the tower down to the bottom.”
The project is expected to extend into February.
Local News 8 spoke with multiple residents about their reaction to the former tower’s demolition.
“I think it just signifies growth in the town, which a lot of people may not like, but a lot of people view as a good thing,” said Ed Roberts, a resident of Idaho Falls.
His friend Nick Rogers agreed.
“I’ve lived in Idaho Falls my entire life and not very far from the water tower. I used to go down and see it daily, and it’s going to be kind of a new thing,” Rogers said. “I’m coming in to see new things in my life, and I’m actually really glad to see new things for this town.”
Rylan Veselka said the tower has served as a beacon ever since he was a young boy going to visit the Idaho Falls Public Library.
“I’m a little sad about it, but I understand why it needs to come down, so, you know, can’t be too sad,” he said.
The city’s new water tower has double the capacity of the former one – carrying 1 million gallons of water, according to a city press release.
The tower helps pressurize multiple wells and provides a reservoir of water for firefighting and power outages.
