OBSERVER Photo by M.J. Stafford The two smaller chimneys at NRG are slated to come down soon.

Two of the NRG smokestacks are coming down.

A fixture on the Chautauqua County skyline for 70 years, two huge cranes herald the demise of the gigantic chimneys at the now-shuttered power plant on Dunkirk’s waterfront.

According to Dunkirk Mayor Willie Rosas, NRG has a long-term plan to remove decommissioned smokestacks, and it is the city plant’s turn.

The cranes appeared over the weekend at the NRG site and when extended Monday, were as tall as the smokestacks themselves. However, the day’s high winds appeared to delay the job.

The cranes were retracted a little before 4 p.m. and the smokestacks remained standing.

In a statement released Monday, NRG officials outlined the plans. “NRG is removing the two smaller stacks at the Dunkirk Power Plant as a precaution,” said Dave Schrader, company spokesman. “The Dunkirk stacks are structurally sound, but out of an abundance of caution, we are removing them because we have experienced some cracking on steel stacks of similar design at other sites in cold weather regions. The larger stack will remain as it is made of a different material that’s better suited for weather conditions typical in this part of New York. The work is expected to be completed by mid to late June, weather permitting. Disruption to the (city) should be minimal and we have been in communication with the mayor’s office regarding this planned work.”

In March, city officials were told the total demolition costs for the former NRG Energy plant in Dunkirk are estimated to be $12 million with total abatement costs expected to be between $3 and $6 million, according to a Bergmann Associates’ feasibility study of the site released to the public.

NRG closed the plant in 2016.