We love demolition videos, there’s no doubt about it. It’s the next best thing to actually being there to watch them. Some happen according to plan, some are failures, and others are filmed on super slow motion cameras, so we can see all of the minute details of how demolition by explosions actually work.
Such is the case with the video below, which shows the demolition of the old US-377/SH-99 Washita River Bridge in Oklahoma. Built in 1943, the bridge was finally damaged beyond repair due to spring flooding early last year. Originally, the replacement bridge wasn’t set to start until 2018, but Mother Nature had different plans.
The new bridge, with costs totaling $8.3 million, is under contract to be completed in 275 days. For every day the construction of the bridge is finished before the deadline, the contractor will receive a $15,000 incentive, but for every day past the deadline, the contractor will owe $15,000. With those kinds of incentive dollars on the line, I can’t imagine there’s any way this bridge is finishing past the deadline. The 275 days expires in July of 2016
According to GoPro, who uploaded Eric Leslie’s video, the demolition specialists used 600 pounds of explosives to take the bridge down. The specialists also took extra precautions by setting up seismograph machines and taking pictures of nearby houses in case the blast damaged any houses, reports KXII News.
Full story: Old Washita River Bridge demolished | KXII