A successful explosive bridge demolition job has been carried out in the US State of Kentucky. After a short delay, demolition specialists managed to remove the old Eggners Ferry Bridge successfully and without incident. The explosives broke up the four middle spans of the structure. The demolition job was not without its challenges, with concern over the presence of nesting ospreys on the structure. Demolition personnel had to keep a distance of 90m from the nesting area, which delayed preparations.
The debris from the old structure is now being removed using a team of divers and crawler cranes mounted on barges.
The old two lane bridge was constructed in the early 1930s to connect Trigg and Marshall counties in Kentucky. It first opened to traffic in March 1932, carrying US 68 and Kentucky Route 80 across the Kentucky Lake although the bridge was closed between July 1943 and February 1944 to raise the height of the structure and add additional piling as support.
The old bridge suffered severe damage when it was struck by a vessel in early 2012, with one of the main spans collapsing into the river. Although there were vehicles crossing the bridge at the time, none fell into the river although one driver had a very close call. After repairs were made the bridge was reopened a few months later.
However, plans were already well in hand to build a new bridge, with work starting in 2011. This wider structure, with two lanes in either direction, was originally intended to open in 2017 but when the old bridge was damaged, the local authorities decided to speed up construction of the new US$133 million crossing.
The debris from the old structure is now being removed using a team of divers and crawler cranes mounted on barges.
The old two lane bridge was constructed in the early 1930s to connect Trigg and Marshall counties in Kentucky. It first opened to traffic in March 1932, carrying US 68 and Kentucky Route 80 across the Kentucky Lake although the bridge was closed between July 1943 and February 1944 to raise the height of the structure and add additional piling as support.
The old bridge suffered severe damage when it was struck by a vessel in early 2012, with one of the main spans collapsing into the river. Although there were vehicles crossing the bridge at the time, none fell into the river although one driver had a very close call. After repairs were made the bridge was reopened a few months later.
However, plans were already well in hand to build a new bridge, with work starting in 2011. This wider structure, with two lanes in either direction, was originally intended to open in 2017 but when the old bridge was damaged, the local authorities decided to speed up construction of the new US$133 million crossing.
