A group of Lehigh Cement silos on Richmond’s riverfront in Virginia were demolished on Wednesday afternoon. The silos on Wharf Street were being removed to make way for a paved pedestrian and bicycle trail to connect the Commonwealth’s past and present capitals of Jamestown and Richmond over 52 miles.

The cement silo demolition is a key milestone in the implementation of the city’s riverfront plan. The demolition is expected to be complete by the end of the month and will cost about US$740,000. The city’s planning director, Mark Olinger, said the land will later be graded and grass will be planted.

“The removal of these silos represents the transformation of the down river portion of the riverfront,” said Mayor Dwight C Jones.