VIDEO – Explosive blast apart redundant US bridge

July 13, 2015
The Donora-Webster Bridge over the Monongahela River in the US has been demolished using explosives. The ageing structure spanned the Monongahela River, connecting Washington and Westmoreland Counties in Pennsylvania. The bridge was built in 1908 and originally carried a rail link but in 1938 the tracks were removed and the structure was modified so that it could handle motor vehicle traffic instead. The Donora-Webster Bridge linked Route 837 on the west side of the Monongahela River with Route 906 on the east bank. The bridge was then closed to vehicle traffic in 2009 because the structural deficiencies had been identified by the local authorities. Despite being designated a historic bridge by the Washington County History & Landmarks Foundation, the Donora-Webster Bridge was earmarked for demolition. The contractor used close to 32.7kg of explosives placed at 387 separate points around the structure so as to break up its structural integrity, resulting in it crashing into the river below in a successfully controlled demolition.

Related Content

  • Teams shortlisted for Pattullo Bridge replacement near Vancouver
    March 1, 2019
    The Canadian province of British Columbia has shortlisted three consortia to design and build a US$1.06 billion Pattullo Bridge replacement near Vancouver. Fraser Community Connectors is led by Kiewit Canada Development. Kiewet Infrastructure BC is the design-build contractor. The long-span bridge design contractors are T.Y. Lin International and International Bridge Technologies. A joint venture of Flatiron Constructors, Dragados Canada and Carlson Construction Pattullo includes ACS Infrastructure Ca
    Read More
  • China looks to the future with major highway plans
    February 15, 2012
    China is still moving ahead with plans that will give it the world's biggest highway system. Patrick Smith reports. As China's economy grows even more, keeping the country on the move has become a priority for the government. While the country has made great strides over the past decade in improving its infrastructure, the number of vehicles has also increased rapidly, and in some instances restrictions have been placed on them.
    Read More
  • Montreal’s new Champlain Bridge is shaping up for Christmas
    September 10, 2018
    Montreal’s Champlain Bridges - one going up, one coming down, reports David Arminas The importance of the new Champlain Bridge to Montreal and Canada can’t be overstated, given the crumbling nature of the not-so-old original Champlain Bridge. The original steel truss affair across the St Lawrence River and the adjacent St Lawrence Seaway canal is “a lifeline for residents and businesses” in greater Montréal, according to the national Auditor General - the public sector spending watchdog. “It accommodates
    Read More
  • Machine control used for road revamp for Arkansas highway
    June 23, 2015
    A historic route in the US state of Arkansas has benefited from the use of machine control during its upgrade The south-west - north-east US Route 67 in Arkansas has long been a significant transport route. This old road follows the natural break between the Ozark Mountains and the Ouachita Mountains. In the 1920s, funding became available for road paving, and the route was designated US Route 67.
    Read More

Highlighted Content