Well, today was the day! I took the morning off for the big event: the destruction of the first span of the old Memorial Bridge. Ever since the new one was started, people have wondered how the old one would come down. It’s particularly tricky on the Mandan side, because the old and new bridges are so close together. Drop the old one incorrectly, and we’ll be picking pieces of TWO bridges out of the Big Muddy! Nobody wants that.

The west span came down in a blaze of glory today, being cut into pieces by shaped charges, and dropped into the drink in 26 large chunks (plus assorted debris).

I staked out a place on the fake riverboat at Steamboat Park early this morning. At 7:30 people were already parked and waiting. I got a great spot, met lots of really neat people, and got some great photos and video. Click below to watch the big bang, both in real-time and slow motion. You’ll hear my camera shutter going mad in the background.

Notice how the camera shook from the shock wave. I don’t think anybody, myself included, expected such an enormous BOOM from those charges!

This is the mess that must be removed by crane over the next 24 hours. I haven’t verified why that is, but with the river so low I suspect that it’s because the Missouri’s flow has been slowed for the occasion. The bottom of the old bridge’s pilings are visible, at least the part that is above the river bed, and I bet that makes recovery easier. My suspicion is that once the cleanup is done, the gates at the Garrison Dam will be opened a little wider and the river level will come up a bit. If anyone has any solid information there, please post a comment!

I have more photos from the event, but those will have to come later. I have to get back to work. Span #2 will come down in a week or so, and I’m hoping to be there as well!