Demolition of the old eastbound I-74 bridge on June 18, 2023

**jimfols** · Jun 22, 2023, 06:56 PM

FF to 1:03

**nova_robotics** · Jun 23, 2023, 07:54 PM

I can't believe they demolished that structure over a waterway. Any time I've been on a project near water you're not allowed to pour your coffee on the ground, just in case some seeps into the water and gives a catfish an erection. The access looks really good from the water. Why didn't they go in with crane barges and haul sections off for scrap? Now they're going to need to hire divers to rig the damaged sections underwater and try to fish them out that way. That cannot possibly be more cost effective. They must have had a very compelling reason to use explosives.

**PDXsparky** · Jun 23, 2023, 09:44 PM

Well I feel ripped off, they only did half of the job.

**Wildwilly** · Jun 25, 2023, 07:20 AM

Taxpayers clapping while watching their dollars go up in smoke! Seems that the deck was removed before exploding of the main supports. I wonder why it all wasn't removed the way that the deck was?
To me it makes as much sense as pockets in your underwear!

**Frank S** · Jun 25, 2023, 07:59 AM

Originally Posted by Wildwilly

Taxpayers clapping while watching their dollars go up in smoke! Seems that the deck was removed before exploding of the main supports. I wonder why it all wasn't removed the way that the deck was?
To me it makes as much sense as pockets in your underwear!

The suspension cables of this type of bridge are essentially strung from anchor point over the support towers and down to the second anchor point 1 strand at a time by sending a tugging rover back and forth across the span until a huge bundle of strands complete the suspension cables then the bundles are clad with a cover installed in sections adding the drop lines at the pre-determined intervals. Once completed the deck is added. Removing such a bridge is done in reverse order the deck can be lowered to barges and floated away in reasonable safety. Trying to remove the suspension cables in reverse order would be quite another matter. Next to if not completely impossible to be done both safely and economically. due to the many years of everything being under extreme stresses plus factoring in the deterioration of the components themselves. This is why explosive charges would be the wisest choice. Once in the water it would be as simple as grappling, lift, cut into sections and haul away