Demolition of the vacant convenience store at Pleasant and Mill streets has started, town officials say.

The Brunswick Town Council agreed a year ago to purchase the property from Cumberland Farms for $250,000. Town Manager John Eldridge said Friday that the town closed on the property in June.

Eldridge said the town is in discussion with the Maine Department of Transportation about widening the intersection to improve the flow of traffic.

The turning radius is tight for vehicles entering the intersection from Stanwood Street, causing turning vehicles to occasionally cut across two lanes of traffic. That, in turn, causes back-ups on Mill Street.

Public Works Director John Foster said the plan requires a small strip of land along the edge of the road.

No date has been set for work to begin, which may still be a year or two away, Foster said.

Past discussions about possible intersection improvements have included construction of a roundabout.

Foster said demolition has begun on the site. The $18,500 contract was awarded to lower bidder Copp Excavating, Inc., the contractor that demolished the former Times Record building on Industry Road.

Work includes removing the building down to the foundation slab, and removing old sign posts, a light pole, an air dispensing station and a Dumpster pad. Cumberland Farms previously removed all the fuel tanks and fuel system. The pavement will remain in place until next spring, when town crews will make it into a green space.