After what seemed like an eternity, the clean-up of Port Hope’s low-level radioactive waste will finally get off to a start this week.

Buildings situated at 192 and 196 Toronto will be demolished a bit earlier, instead of the scheduled spring date, this according to Bob Neufeld, manager of stakeholder relations with the Port Hope Area Initiative Management Office or PHAI MO.

He added that if the weather permits, work will begin by as early as this week.

The dilapidated buildings have become an eyesore and have shown signs of disrepair, prompting officials to do something about them. Neufeld said they will be taken down to make way for an access road connecting Toronto Road and a soon-to-rise low-level radioactive waste treatment facility, which will take the place of the existing Welcome Waste Management Plant.

The demolition will be carried out by JMX Contracting Inc. under the supervision of Public Works and Government Services Canada to ensure proper security and safety of the public.

Indeed, this development is a great step in the right direction. The problem of radioactive waste in Port Hope has been around for years, with officials seemingly unable to act on it until now.