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Politics & Government

Location Of Former 40-Year-Old Bristol Business Demolished

Now vacant Nichol's Home Resort Pools was demolished by the Pa. Turnpike Commission to make way for a new road project.

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission made way for a new roadway project by demolishing what was left of a former Bristol business.

Demolition began early Monday morning at the vacant building that once housed Nichol's Home Resort Pools. Before it was bought by the Pa. Turnpike Commission, Nichol's Pools was at the location on Durham Road for more than 40 years.

"Back when we were younger, that was the only pool place in the entire area. It was an icon," Bristol Township Business Coalition founder Craig Bowen said.

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The building was demolished to make way for phase one of the Interstate 95/PA Turnpike Interchange Project. With plans originating as far back as the late 1950s, phase one of the project was approved in 2009.

According to the PA Turnpike Commission, phase one involves main line widening of roadways and a new toll plaza. A connection between I-95 and the turnpike is planned for construction in Bristol.

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The $650-million project, which is expected to be completed in 2017, will make I-95 a continuous roadway from Philadelphia to New York City.

Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission Director of Communications Bill Capone said the original plan was to take only a portion of the property and build retaining walls for the construction. Shortly after, the entire property was put up for sale so instead, Turnpike Commission officials said it was decided to purchase the whole lot.

"It would have probably cost more in the long run if we didn't," Capone said.

Several residents watched the demolishing Monday from across an adjacent parking lot.

"It'll be kind of interesting to see what they are going to do with (the lot) here," Langhorne resident Debbie Sumler said.

Sumler biked down to watch the demolish. Sumler moved from Georgia to the region in 1960, and said she distinctly remembers going to Nichol's Pool in the past.

"They used to have a public pool near Silver Lake. (Nichol's Pools) was the place to go when we wanted to buy supplies for the kids to go swimming," Sumler said.

While Sumler see's the demolition as a thing of curiosity and excitement, Bowen see's it differently.

"Ultimately, this is just one more piece of commercial property gone; one more business (Bristol Township) lost revenue on," Bowen said.

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