Binghamton Parking Ramp Demo Will Take Weeks

259 days after it was closed, a half-million-dollar demolition project is to get underway at the Collier Street Garage in downtown Binghamton.

The effort to tear down the crumbling five-level structure is scheduled to begin Monday morning. But city officials expect it will take six weeks to accomplish the major demolition work at the site near the Governmental Plaza.

Asbestos abatement work in the structure was performed by Sunstream Corporation. That job was completed last week.

According to the game plan, the first step will be smashing the ramp's windows and pushing them into the structure.

A high-reach excavator will be set up at the corner of Collier and Hawley streets to demolish the top level of the garage. The device is able to cut through concrete and steel.

Crushed debris is supposed to fall onto the level below. Demolition is to continue toward the center of the structure. The excavator then will move toward State Street.

The process will be repeated for each above-ground level of the garage. Another excavator will be used to handle the thicker concrete for the ramp's bottom floors.

Gorick Construction was awarded the $484,000 contract to tear down the structure.

Traffic restrictions will be in place on State, Hawley and Collier streets for the next few weeks.

A parking lot is to be opened on the site after the demolition project has been completed.

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