Skip to main content

VIDEO: Bridge demolition jobs in CA

November 23, 2015
Explosive demolition techniques were used to remove a bridge structure in the US at the weekend. In California on the west coast, the removal of a pier from the old Bay Bridge structure was carried out. The explosive demolition was organised by 5246 Caltrans, with around 10tonnes of explosives being used to blast the redundant bridge pier. Protective layers of wood and steel were used to prevent debris from the massive 24.4m x 42.7m bridge pier from being thrown into the air. Meanwhile a special bubble curtain was also used around the pier to minimise the effects of the blast on wildlife in the surrounding area. Although water was thrown over 30m into the air by the blast, the mat prevented and debris.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Busy bridge in Beijing replaced quickly
    March 31, 2016
    The replacement of a very busy road bridge in China’s capital Beijing has been carried out successfully. Due to the volume of traffic using the bridge during week days, the work had to be carried out quickly so as to minimise traffic disruption. But despite being carried out in the centre of Beijing, the replacement work for the Sanyuan Bridge just took 43 hours from start to completion.
  • Italian viaduct job for Conjet
    July 4, 2012
    The multi-span reinforced concrete viaduct at Torano, about 100km east of the Italian capital Rome, is a major structure on the main E80/A24/A25 Autostrada crossing central Italy. The Viadotto Fiume Salto was opened in the late 1960s, but the use of de-icing salts during winter months has since caused considerable calcium chloride damage to the structure forcing the Italian Highways Authority and the Autostrada di Parchi's owner Toto to carry out extensive repairs. The renovation estimated at around €5 mill
  • Controlled demolition development
    January 25, 2017
    The development of reliable hydraulic attachments has brought a revolution in demolition technology. The hydraulic breaker, pioneered by the Krupp and Montabert brands, has firmly taken hold with a huge range of manufacturers now offering machines. Hydraulic attachment specialists such as Atlas Copco, Indeco and Sandvik (with its Rammer brand) now offer a range of tools that can deliver high efficiency and safety in demolition work. Meanwhile, developments with smaller tools offer productive methods for rep
  • Towers of power: California’s Gerald Desmond Bridge Replacement
    May 8, 2019
    Challenging ground conditions meant a design rethink - and some engineering firsts - for California’s Gerald Desmond Bridge Replacement Project* The Port of Long Beach on Terminal Island south of Los Angeles is the second-busiest container port in the US. It handles around 15% of all imported goods, much of it with Asia. As the Port of Long Beach was growing in importance over the past half century, the 51-year-old Gerald Desmond Bridge has faithfully been delivering thousands of daily commuters to wo