Work on getting the cement right at the Qay'llnagaay Heritage Centre in Skidegate is underway. Workers have been removing the weak concrete poured last summer since early last month.
"It's taken a long time to get to the area, but we're talking about a fair amount of repairs and a long process to get it corrected," said project coordinator Bob Haldorson.
Details of where the repairs will start and stop still have to be worked out, said Mr. Haldorson, and all the parties involved in solving the problem will met Wednesday to work out the schedule.
The problem began last summer when the first batch of concrete called 'Mix 1' was poured. The ratio of water to cement was incorrect, said Mr. Haldorson, which made the footings weak. The majority of footings were poured with 'Mix 1' during the summer. In September, construction workers began using 'Mix 2' concrete for the construction near the old museum, while at the same time, the problem with 'Mix 1' became apparent.
Since September, work has been stalled on much of the project while the Skidegate Band Council and the Qay'llnagaay Society sorted out what was wrong and how to solve the problem.
However, the museum extension being built on foundations made of 'Mix 2' have been going forward.
People driving by the site will notice a tall wall going up near the old museum. This is one wall of the Totem Hall, said Mr. Haldorson, which will house three totem poles.
The cost of the repairs is not known. Executive officer Robert Dudoward has estimated the problem will hold up construction by about six months.