It used to tell you how to get, how to get to Sesame Place, but water tower is coming down

It will take about two months, but the bright blue water tower that has promoted Sesame Place along I-295 in Middletown for 30 years is coming down.

How did Big Bird and Cookie Monster end up on water tower?

For generations of children from across the country, seeing Big Bird and Cookie Monster waving from the tower has been a sign they were close to the nearby theme park. For thousands and thousands of kids from Lower Bucks County, it served as a beloved landmark, a reminder they were close to home.

More: Sesame Place water tower in Middletown to come down soon

The Bucks County Water and Sewer Authority put out bids for the demolition work last year since the tower has not been used to store water for more than five years and its vinyl Sesame Place wrap and the tower itself was deteriorating.

The authority asked Sesame Place if it wanted to take control of it, but the amusement park corporation declined.

Why is the Sesame Place water tower coming down?

The 145-foot tower, which could hold 2 million gallons of water, was built in 1980 and in 1993 the idea to use it as a promotional sign for Sesame Place near the Oxford Valley exit on then Interstate 95 took place.

In 2003, the BCWSA acquired the tower when it purchased Middletown's water system. But it was no longer needed when two higher towers were built near Neshaminy High School and took over storing water for the township since they could provide greater water pressure.

BCWSA spokesman Brian Dries said the demolition work by Haines & Kibblehouse, a Philadelphia area construction engineering company, will take about two months and cost $174,250. H&K of Skippack was the sole bidder for the project

More: Sesame Place water tower to be demolished along I-295 in Langhorne

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Bucks County water tower decorated for Sesame Place to be demolished