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Explosives take down old bridge spanning Illinois River

Posted August 29, 2018 7:00 am

The Associated Press

MEREDOSIA, Ill. (AP) - Booms rang out as explosive charges brought down a steel bridge that had spanned the Illinois River since 1936.

Several hundred people watched Wednesday morning as the explosion sent the old Illinois 104 bridge crashing into the river at the Morgan County community of Meredosia about 50 miles west of Springfield.

The old bridge had been replaced by a new $86 million span that opened to traffic in June. The new bridge just to the north has wider traffic lanes and 10-foot shoulders, where the old bridge had no shoulder areas.

Traffic was blocked from the new bridge while the demolition was carried out. Officials expected to keep the river closed to commercial and private boat traffic for 24 hours so crews could remove the bridge debris.

The old bridge carrying Illinois 104 over the Illinois River at Meredosia,Ill. falls into the river after being imploded Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2018 in Meredosia, Ill. The bridge, which opened in 1936, was replaced by new span this summer. (Rich Saal/The State Journal-Register via AP) The Associated Press

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