Highland Avenue Closing For SPS Technologies Demolition

ABINGTON TOWNSHIP, PA — Highland Avenue will be intermittently closed throughout the week as the demolition of the SPS Technologies building continues.

Abington Township officials said the road will be closed at times between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.

A full two-week closure was originally planned for the building that was destroyed in a massive fire in February, officials said.

During the closure, the demolition contractor will safely remove the buildings and structures along the street.

SPS’s contractor will work to complete the project as efficiently as possible to minimize disruptions, officials said.

Township officials had reported that the building's demolition was "ahead of schedule."

Abington Township Commissioner Matt Vahey provided an update last week on the demolition. The demolition started in mid-May, three months after the massive fire at the Highland Avenue building fought by over 70 fire companies.

Here are the SPS Technologies updates Vahey provided:

• Demolition — Progress on the demolition is moving quickly and is ahead of schedule. Above-grade demolition should be substantially complete by the fall.
• Highland Avenue Closure — The township will close Highland Avenue so that SPS can safely complete the demolition of the buildings fronting the road. The closure is expected to begin the week of Aug. 18. By this time, officials expect the SEPTA bridge project to be complete and for Easton Road to be open. The closure of Highland Avenue should last no more than two weeks.
• Future Development — SPS is interested in rebuilding on the site. Township staff and I continue to discuss the development process with SPS leadership, and I will share more information as details take shape. If SPS choses to proceed at the existing site, I expect the new structure to have a smaller footprint, and it will be built to modern standards. Please note that SPS has not yet submitted any plans for township consideration. I do not yet have a timeline for next steps.