Utica demolition crews tearing down traffic-snarling Syracuse building

By By The Associated Press

Story Created: Mar 17, 2010 at 1:00 PM EST

Story Updated: Mar 17, 2010 at 1:00 PM EST

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) - A demolition crew has begun tearing down a Syracuse building whose deteriorating condition has closed a northbound stretch of Interstate 81 since late February.

A crew from a Utica-based contractor began demolishing the 120-year-old building adjacent to I-81 on Wednesday afternoon. A 1-mile section of the highway's northbound lanes has been closed since Feb. 26 after the former brewery partially collapsed.

About 50,000 motorists who use that portion of I-81 each day have had to take detours.

State transportation department officials say the northbound lanes could reopen later this week.

The building most recently housed a motorcycle repair business.

Some streets near the building have been closed during the
demolition work.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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