07.03.2009 10:52 am

Bridges, explosions and the Fourth

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

In honor of Independence Day, the Missouri Department of Transportation posted a YouTube video showing its version of fireworks: bridges imploding to patriotic music. Missouri has more than 10,000 bridges on its state bridge system — 53 of which cross rivers. That’s the most river bridges in the nation.

As the state’s highway system ages, so have these structures. In recent years, MoDOT has had to remove and replace about a dozen or so of them. Decrepit, unused railroad bridges have gone down, too. To see the crossings go down with a bang, watch the video.

Tags: bridges, demolition, Fourth of July, Missouri Department of Transportation, river bridges

11 comments

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Blog Comments: Rules of the Road

This was fantastic. Great post, Elisa.

— Kurt Greenbaum

11:36 am July 3rd, 2009

When are they going to implode the Eads Bridge. The removal of that decrepit bridge is long overdue.

— Dave Spankwad

2:06 pm July 3rd, 2009

The Eads bridge is a nice bridge, it just leads to a bad area in IL. The Poplar bridge needs to go and be redesigned. Going from 50 mph to 25 to get on 55 and 44 is just silly.

— Justin

2:11 pm July 3rd, 2009

All bridges connecting St. Louis and Illinois should be imploded. Chris Coleman used the JB Bridge to facilitate the murder of his family. Poplar Street Bridge is used by drunks to get to the East Side bars and clubs, where they run the risk of getting stabbed, date raped, robbed, or even worse. The fine residents of East St. Louis use the Poplar to raid malls on this side of the river. The Eads Bridge is old and decrepit like Dave pointed out. The MLK Bridge is narrow, and again connects to East St. Louis. Not good! The McKinley Bridge is hardly used and a drain on taxpayers and it connects to Venice, IL. Not good! The Chain of Rocks Bridge is still tainted by the murder of the Kerry sisters. OK, maybe I’ll spare the Clark bridge so I can get cold beer and Big Elwoods at Fast Eddies, but a dentist should really open up shop in Alton, IL.

— Tim Chapman

2:35 pm July 3rd, 2009

Kurt, why are you working on the Friday before the 4th? Where are your minions? Are budget cuts that bad at the Post?

— Bob J. Smith

2:38 pm July 3rd, 2009

I don’t understand why they used explosives to bring these bridges down.
According to the 9/11 commission report fire alone is capable of bringing steel structures down.
A bic lighter and some gasoline would have been much less of a burden on the tax payers.

— George Orwell

2:55 pm July 3rd, 2009

The music is the ”1812 Overture” by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky about Russia’s defense of the French invasion by Napoleon’s army. This is hardly patriotic ”American” music. It is patriotic ”Russian” music.

— Don Meyer

3:25 pm July 3rd, 2009

Tim Chapman is a douche.

— Joseph

4:58 pm July 3rd, 2009

I’m glad to see MoDot putting taxpayer dollars to good use by posting videos on Youtube. MoDot is an example of bureaucracy run amuck.

— Bud Wiser

9:44 pm July 3rd, 2009

The Eads bridge is an historical landmark. More history and local pride may improve one’s attitude. In addition taking time out to READ about its importance in OUR city’s history would serve all of us well.
Happy 4th of July to all of our citizens.

— JD of STL

11:05 pm July 3rd, 2009

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Bridges, explosions and the Fourth

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