The north tower crane, a fixture for more than four years, has been removed.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Temple Square in Salt Lake City is pictured on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025. The north tower crane, a fixture for more than four years, has been removed.
Turns out, the latest subtraction at the Salt Lake Temple is a real plus for the yearslong project renovating the pioneer-era landmark.
Crews have removed the 270-foot-tall north tower crane, marking yet another milestone toward the planned 2027 reopening of the most iconic building of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
(The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) Construction of stairs on the west side of the Salt Lake Temple on Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025. The large crane on the left was dismantled the week of Oct. 27.
The crane — which loomed over the temple for more than four years and helped lift and place large stones, structural components and mechanical systems — was dismantled over a three-day period this week, a Friday news release noted, with crews working through the night to ensure safety and adequate space.
“Space is always the biggest problem,” Steve Quintana, general foreman for Jacobsen Construction, said in the release, referring to the small construction area close to the temple.
To complete the dismantling, an 800-foot-tall crane was erected and used to remove the north tower crane. After three days, both cranes were loaded onto semitrucks and removed.
(The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) A crane is erected to help dismantle a crane positioned at the north of the Salt Lake Temple during construction at Temple Square on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025.
The south tower crane, the longest at the site, will remain until spring 2026.
In addition, crews are constructing a new entrance to the west side of the nearby Relief Society Building. An old plant bed and set of stairs will be demolished, the release explained, and new stars, an accessible ramp, lighting, irrigation and plants will be installed. Work there is expected to wrap up by spring 2026.
The Salt Lake Temple will open to public tours — the first since before its original 1893 dedication — from April to October in 2027.
