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INUVIK - The Jak Park tower will be getting some assistance standing up before any problems arise.

The three-tier tower has been standing unassisted since its construction in 1992.

The Jak Park lookout tower is undergoing remedial renovations this month to build a stronger foundation at the base of the structure. Work is to be completed this month. - Dez Loreen/NNSL photo

This year, the tower is being worked on at the base, where new steel piles are being installed to keep the structure stable.

Project officer Allan Martin said the work is a precautionary measure - the tower is still strong and not showing signs of failing.

"We want to make sure the tower is always going to be a solid structure," he said.

The work started last month and is scheduled for completion this month.

"We're hoping to have it all done by mid-August," said Martin.

A contracted crew is doing the foundation work on the tower.

"We've hired Millennium Construction to do the work," said Martin.

At the centre of the tower is a steel pile, with wood making up the rest of the structure.

Martin explained rather than keep the wood piles that surround the centre of the tower, it would be better to install metal piles.

"Wood has the problem of deteriorating over time," he said. "We won't have that problem with metal."

Martin said that the total cost of the project was not available as of press time.