Sixty-million and 12 years in the project, and they couldn’t deconstruct any of the 8 buildings?

PLYMOUTH — The wall of the house crumbled like paper mache beneath the weight of the excavator, just after Montgomery County Commissioners Josh Shapiro and Leslie Richards announced plans for the Lafayette Street extension project Monday morning.

A project nearly 12 years in the making, the vacant home on Diamond Avenue is one of eight buildings to be razed for the extension of the thoroughfare from Norristown to Plymouth Township, commissioners explained to a small gaggle of the press.

The commissioners, accompanied by representatives of the county’s transportation department and officials from Norristown and Plymouth, participated in the ceremonial demolition of part of the Diamond Avenue home, which is expected to improve local and regional access to Norristown and support revitalization.

“This is the beginning of a $60 million transportation project here for Norristown and Plymouth Township,” said Montgomery County Commissioner Leslie Richards.

Workers prepare to demolish the first of several homes on Diamond Ave in Plymouth Monday. The demolition is part of the Lafayette street project that will link the Pa. Turnpike and downtown Norristown together by a connection to Lafayette Street. Photo by Gene Walsh / Times Herald Staff.

via The Times Herald – Demolition begins in Lafayette Street project.