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Section of North Main open for first time since mid-July

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A section of North Main Street in Washington, between Chestnut and Beau streets, reopened to traffic Tuesday.

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A section of North Main Street in Washington, between Chestnut and Beau streets, reopened to traffic Tuesday.

The first phase of a methodical building demolition concluded Tuesday, allowing a section of North Main Street in Washington to reopen to traffic.

“There’s still a good portion of that building that needs to come down, but now we feel like it’s at a place where it’s not going to do any more damage,” said Washington Mayor Scott Putnam.

The road has been closed to through-traffic from Beau to Chestnut streets since the apartment building at 15 N. Main St. started to come down July 12. Crews with contractor Allegheny Crane Rental worked slowly to remove debris from the unstable building.

Putnam said the collapse inflicted damage on the neighboring property at 3 N. Main St., which sits at the intersection of Main and Beau streets, but it is not known how much. Supports that were put in place by rescue crews on the day of the collapse remain in order to keep “extra pressure” off the foundation, Putnam said.

The sidewalk and parking spaces directly in front of the building will remained closed.

Putnam estimates the first phase of demolition cost more than $500,000. The city’s solicitor continues dialogue with the building owners’ insurance company in an attempt to fund the demolition, but Putnam said no agreement has been reached.

Because the city’s demolition projects are funded by Community Development Block Grant funds distributed by the Redevelopment Authority of Washington County, officials from both entities will meet later this week to develop bid specifications for the remaining work, as well as a timeline.

Putnam anticipates future demolition to be done through the rear of the building, on Brownson Avenue, but said temporary closures of North Main could occur.

Putnam wouldn’t speculate on the total cost of the project or how long it will take to complete.

Building owners Mark and Melissa Russo are scheduled to appear before District Judge Robert Redlinger Oct. 5 for a hearing on code citations issued for 15 N. Main.

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