The grandstands at Montana Expo Park came down Monday.

Demolition and removal of materials from the site and cleanup will take the next two weeks.

Then site work will start between the grandstands and the Paddock Club and the new grandstands are scheduled to be installed by Dec. 31.

During a special meeting this afternoon, County Commissioners are scheduled to award a contract to Dick Olson Construction for demolition of the Paddock Club for $48,513.

Paddock Club to be remodeled along with grandstand project at Expo Park

The project includes demolition and removal of the Paddock Club roofing, siding and all interior elements.

Three contractors attended a pre-bid walk through at the Paddock Club on Aug. 13 and one bid was received Aug. 17, according to Brian Clifton, county public works director.

Crews have also been cleaning out the Paddock Club since that building is a steel frame and it will be deconstructed and rebuilt on the inside.

Clifton said the county was salvaging and recycling as much material as possible between the two projects, though part of the contract for demolition of the grandstand included the contractor salvaging the steel, which kept the cost of work lower for the county.

The aluminum pieces of the grandstands were removed and will be reused with wooden bleachers around the fairgrounds, Clifton said.

Clifton told The Electric that the earliest photo they’ve found with the current grandstands showing is dated 1931.

The current grandstands were dragged to their current location to replace an earlier set of stands, according to county officials.

The projects are being combined to save some time and money since concrete, grading and other site work is needed for both of the facilities, which neighbor each other.

County Commission approves more than $2 million in contracts for replacement of grandstands at fairgrounds

The new grandstand structure will be similar in size, but extend about six to eight feet toward the track and the overhang will be a taller structure, Clifton told The Electric. The new grandstands will hold 2,000 people, just as the old ones did, he said.

New storm drains and sidewalks will be installed making it a “much nicer facility,” Clifton said.

The new grandstands won’t have the area underneath for betting windows or other activities, Clifton said.

During the project, the 1,000 watt metal halide lights at the track will also be changed over to LED, for an anticipated energy savings, Clifton said.

Work is also underway on a roof replacement project at the county offices in the Executive Plaza building at the corner of 2nd Avenue North and 4th Street North.

County approved $337,000 contract for architectural services for remodel of downtown office building

A section of that building was reroofed last year, Clifton said, and this section should take about 2.5 months.