[kellyhound]

PITTSBURGH – The century-old Hulton Bridge that connects Freeport Road to Oakmont was demolished Tuesday morning.

Just before 10 a.m. the 107-year-old bridge was imploded and four sections fell into the Allegheny River.

It took 150 pounds of dynamite and 51 charges to take the bridge down.

A 1,000-foot safety radius was in place ahead of the implosion. Several road closures in the area were in effect, including Route 28 being shut down in both directions.

However, Route 28 reopened within minutes of the implosion.

Oakmont Mayor Bob Fescemyer watched the bridge come down with a heavy heart.

“It was bittersweet. That bridge has been a part of my life and I know we needed a new bridge, the old bridge was antiquated and it just couldn’t do the job that needed to be done,” he said.

As for how the implosion went?

“Very successful event. Obviously, any time you can pull off an implosion like this ahead of time, very successful,” PennDOT District 11 Executive Dan Cessna said.

Almost immediately, traffic started flowing again. The new bridge was inspected for damage and reopened within an hour. The bridge did not suffer any structural damage, but a couple sections will need to be repainted due to some shrapnel scratches.

“The bridge is designed to withstand an impact,” said Cessna. “From the beginning, this bridge was developed knowing the old bridge would be imploded this way so that’s factored into it’s design.”

http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2016/...dge-implosion/
I luv im and explosions

[Nasty Nuggets]

I hate that bridge, traffic was always so backed up. The alternator went out in my truck while I was sitting in traffic at 630 am right in the middle of the bridge, I had traffic backed up for miles until someone helped me push it to the end.

[Oswald2001]

Neat and clean.

Textbook example of a successful demolition.

[commondenom]

probably the most boring demolition in the history of demolitions.

[winvens]

I wasn't expecting it to collapse in one piece like that.