The removal of the elevated's frame was expected to take six to eight months. Demolition on this section was expected to begin early in 1978. In April 1978, work was scheduled to begin on May 1 and be completed in mid-July. However, the work started on June 28, 1978, and was scheduled to be completed by early fall 1978—six to ten weeks later. The $927,000 contract to demolish the structure was awarded to the Wrecking Corp. of America. The demolition of the structure, with the exception of the station platforms, was completed overnight to minimize potential impacts to businesses and traffic. Work to reconstruct the street, install new traffic lights and overhead utility lines was expected to take an additional year. Work tearing down the structure began at 168th Street and proceeded to just west of the Queens Boulevard station. In November 1978, the only sections of the structure left were at 155th Street and 160th Street.