Demolition nears for traffic-snarling NY building

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — A demolition crew is set to tear down a downtown Syracuse building whose deteriorating condition forced the closure of a stretch of interstate highway used by tens of thousands of commuters.

State transportation department officials say demolition of the 122-year-old building adjacent to Interstate 81 could begin as early as Wednesday. A 1-mile stretch of I-81's northbound lanes have been closed since Feb. 26 after the building partially collapsed.

That section of highway is used by about 50,000 motorists a day.

A Utica contractor has been hired to demolish the building, a former brewery that most recently housed a motorcycle repair business.

Officials say the highway's northbound lanes could be reopened later this week if demolition starts on Wednesday.