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UTICA, N.Y. -- After years of designing and planning, New York State's Department of Transportation began construction surrounding the North South Arterial.

The demolition phase started Tuesday as construction crews tore down an old gas station on Oriskany Boulevard. That will help make room to extend Champlin Avenue all the way to Route 5A, giving traffic an alternative route while arterial road construction is going on.

"This will help us be able to get emergency services over to Champlin Ave., over to the local hospitals and give the area a lot of mobility in the long run after the project is completed," said Jim Piccola with the New York State Department of Transportation.

DOT officials say they've had to clean up asbestos and clear out the buildings before demolition could occur. Some of these buildings will also be used for training for the Utica Fire Department.

Demolition is expected to be completed by the end of June.