Nearby residents and businesses are hoping to get back into their buildings more than a week after the deadly crane collapse

It’s a waiting game for people whose homes and offices are still in the evacuation zone, as crews are in the final phase of removing the crane that collapsed in downtown Kelowna more than a week ago.

Even some outside the evacuation zone are impacted, like businesses at 1433 St. Paul Street, where the power has been out since the day of the catastrophic collapse.

How much longer it will take to restore is unclear.

“Well, that’s a good question,” said Rob Roy, who was only able to grab his laptop on the day of the disaster and came by on Monday to collect some paperwork.

“At first we were told it would be a day or two and then it’s a week. Now I don’t think there’s any definitive date that we’re going to be able to get back in but I’m hoping it will be this week sometime,” said Roy.

“Once that lift has been completed (of the counterweight) the utilities providers will have to inspect their infrastructure prior to restoring services to affected properties,” said Maria Lee, spokesperson for Central Okanagan Emergency Operations.

Lauren Lea with FortisBC said crews will be able to assess any possible damage to their electrical transformer on the site, once they are given the go-ahead.

Among the affected properties is a seniors housing complex at 1450 Bertram Street. Those residents have also been waiting more than a week to hear when they’ll be able to go home.

Five men died in the tragedy, four construction workers, and a man in an office building hit by part of the crane. A makeshift memorial has been growing ever since.