Airport Hilton being demolished to make way for new runway

Old hotel torn down 'to make for clear aviation space'

DANIA BEACH, Fla. – An old hotel is being demolished to make way for a new runway for Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.

Construction workers were busy gutting each room of the former nine-story Hilton. Monday was the 11th day of demolition.

"It was determined by the contractor and these engineers that the safest and fastest way to demolish it would be to gut it first and then take it down in sections," expansion project manager Richard Lauricella told Local 10.

The hotel had to go to make room for the new runway at the airport.

Airport spokesman Greg Meyer said the reason was "to make for clear aviation space."

The total cost of the demolition is $2.3 million. The cost to purchase the hotel was $62 million.

Lauricella said the hotel has to be demolished by June 1 and the site cleared by mid-August.