SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) -- The destruction efforts continue to progress at the old Pillsbury plant in Springfield.

In an email sent out Tuesday, Team Pillsbury said big changes were coming to the site. The last of the silver coating on the Headhouse was removed on Wednesday. By next week, the smiley face atop the 180-foot-tall Turbo Building is expected to be taken down and a crane will work to demolish the plant.

Team Pillsbury said the environment cleanup of the structure at the site will be completed within the next week. Previously, cleanup of the remaining asbestos at the site started in March 2025. After eight months of cleanup efforts, the site is nearly cleared.

The manufacturing and warehouse buildings were cleared of all asbestos in July. The removal of the silver coating, wi

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