WESTPORT — An excavator, above, yanks a giant chunk of cinderblock wall out of Westport’s old police station next to Town Hall on Main Road on Monday.

Built in 1975, the station had become cramped, outdated and, thanks to chronic leaks, ridden with mold.

“The police station, that was built 40 years ago and is used 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, owes us nothing,” Police Chief Keith Pelletier said in his pitch for a new station four years ago (that station was build on nearby Hixbridge Road). “The building has served the purpose it was designed for and it is tired, worn and ready to retire.”

Town officials had hoped to have the station demolished in December, but dealing with asbestos, mold and other interior preparations took longer than expected. Once the building is down and the debris removed, the lot will be raked smooth and planted with grass.