Several damaged buildings in Wheatley will be torn down in the next two weeks, nearly three years after a gas explosion in the downtown core.
The Municipality of Chatham-Kent said work began last month to prepare nine buildings along Erie Street North and Talbot Road East for demolition.
The fencing around the buildings will be relocated onto the roadway this week in preparation, which will limit on-street parking.
Demolition equipment will be brought to the site on Monday, and contractor Salandria Ltd. will also begin internal work within the buildings. Demolition of the buildings to follow within a week.
Road closures during the demolition are not anticipated, the municipality said.
To move forward with the demolition, Chatham-Kent Council approved spending more than $4 million to purchase several of the properties in downtown Wheatley.
The buildings, which have been fenced off in the evacuation zone since the August 2021 explosion, include:
27 Erie St. N.
29/31 Erie St. N.
37 Erie St. N.
9 Talbot Rd. E.
11 Talbot Rd. E.
13 Talbot Rd. E.
15 Talbot Rd. E.
17 Talbot Rd. E.
23 Talbot Rd. E.