Demolition begins around I-83 Mount Rose Avenue exit

Demolition on buildings in the area of Mount Rose Avenue and Haines Road/Camp Betty Washington Road began on Thursday in preparation for the reconfiguring of the Mount Rose Avenue I-83 northbound exit and entrance ramps. The Yowza Spring Water building and the Denny's restaurant, pictured here, were among the first of several buildings to be razed in preparation for the project. (Jason Plotkin Daily Record/Sunday News)

The Yowza Spring Water site on Mt. Rose Avenue, a former gas station, is a pile of rubble.

The Denny's restaurant on Haines Road, right before it becomes Camp Betty Washington Road, is a couple of walls away from being in the same condition.

Both buildings came down in preparation for PennDOT's Interstate 83/Mount Rose Avenue interchange project. Several other buildings which housed the Budget Host Inn, Par-Tee Mini Golf, Mexitaly, Pacific Pride commercial fueling and Nello Tire's warehouse also are slated for demolition.

"All of that is leading up to construction," said Mike Crochunis, PennDOT District 8 press officer, Friday.

Crochunis said after the properties are cleared, construction on the new highway exchange will be put up for bid on Jan. 15, 2015.

Crochunis said the demolition is taking place well before construction "for safety purposes."

He said PennDOT does not want the buildings to become structurally unsafe in the interim or subject to vandalism or inhabited by homeless squatters.

Crochunis said a sewer in the area also will need to be addressed before construction.

The revamped interchange and widening of Mount Rose Avenue is to alleviate ever-worsening traffic congestion in that area.

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Demolition begins around I-83 Mount Rose Avenue exit