[FONT=Verdana]Crews are ready to begin demolishing a major portion of the Phoenix Arizona Convention Center.

Heavy equipment arrived at the site Tuesday in anticipation of work beginning over the Memorial Day weekend. The construction marks the start of the second phase of the massive $600 million public-works project.

Workers will tear down the center's north building and a bridge that spans Washington Street, forcing the closure of the roadway for several months. As a result, cars will be diverted off Washington between Fifth and Third streets, starting May 29. Washington is expected to reopen by Oct. 11.[/FONT]
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[FONT=Verdana]The 10-acre site will be excavated 50 feet below street level to accommodate the extension of an underground exhibition hall, plus a four-story building that will have a food court, retail shops, and ballroom and meeting space.

The latest round of work comes just as crews are putting the finishing touches on the first phase of construction; the west building is scheduled for completion in mid-July, at which time all convention business will move into the new space.

Convention Center Director Jay Green said Tuesday that the start of the second phase of construction marks an "important milestone" in the facility's development.

"This . . . increases our ability to compete with other major destinations in the meetings and conventions market," he said.

All work on the Convention Center is scheduled to be complete by late 2008.[/FONT][FONT=Verdana][/FONT]