Port Authority will demolish the above-ground portion of the closed Gateway Center subway station.

An authority committee today approved a $325,000 contract change to cover the cost.

The authority examined possible reuse of the structure as a restaurant or service center but concluded that neither was viable.

Demolition likely will begin in October, with work done mostly on weekends to minimize impacts on pedestrians.

The new Gateway Center station is under construction nearby at Penn Avenue and Stanwix Street and will open in March 2012 as part of the North Shore Connector project.

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