Outdated Central Texas highway bridge demolished
Explosives used to demolish outdated highway bridge in Marble Falls, crowd gathers to watch
MARBLE FALLS, Texas (AP) -- An outdated Central Texas highway bridge has been demolished using explosives instead of a tear-down process that could have taken two months.
Hundreds of bystanders gathered Sunday morning in Marble Falls to watch the former U.S. 281 bridge come down.
The Texas Department of Transportation has been working on a $30 million project to replace the four-lane bridge over the Colorado River with two roomier spans.
Experts opted for explosives instead of taking apart the 77-year-old metal-and-concrete bridge. Contractors will remove debris from the water and recycle as much as possible.
A new northbound bridge opened in December. A new southbound bridge will be built in the same space as the old span.
