LEWISTON — The Maine Turnpike Authority is expected to close this week on the purchase of a closed motel in Lewiston that will be knocked down to create a park-and-ride lot with at least 75 spots.

Executive Director Peter Mills says the purchase is part of a $24 million project to overhaul Exit 80.

Mills tells the Sun Journal the turnpike authority has the former motel under contract for $400,000.

The coming work at Exit 80 is a four-part, multi-year project that includes new ramps.

Mills says the authority is studying whether to knock down half of the hotel and find a buyer for the 42-room half-hotel left behind, or knock it all down to create 150 parking spaces. He’s in favor of the latter option.