Kosciuszko Bridge Implosion a First for NYC
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the procedure, called an "energetic felling," was chosen because it was the safest, quickest, most effective way to demolish the old bridge and the least intrusive for the surrounding community. The job is part of the $873 million Kosciuszko Bridge project, which is replacing the former 78-year-old bridge with two new, state-of-the-art cable-stayed bridges.
The first-ever implosion in New York City of a major bridge using explosives took place over the weekend. A total of 944 linear shaped charges strategically positioned on the old Kosciuszko Bridge in Brooklyn and Queens caused 20 steel truss spans to fall straight down, in total 3,000 feet of roadway, or nearly two-thirds of a mile. More than 1,600 cuts in the bridge's steel had been made to weaken it so the charges would work as planned.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the procedure, called an "energetic felling," was chosen because it was the safest, quickest, most effective way to demolish the old bridge and the least intrusive for the surrounding community. The job is part of the $873 million Kosciuszko Bridge project, which is replacing the former 78-year-old bridge with two new, state-of-the-art cable-stayed bridges.
The new Kosciuszko Bridge's twin spans are scheduled to be completed in 2019, a full four years ahead of the original project schedule.
"After years of stagnation and stunted ambition, we are building across the state bigger and better than before, and the energetic felling of the old bridge to make way for the new, on budget and ahead of schedule bridge, showcases our renewed commitment to building new, inspiring infrastructure for the future," Cuomo said. "The new cable-stayed bridge is a monument that brings people together, straddling two boroughs that have welcomed generations of immigrants from all over the globe."
He opened the first span in April, marking the completion of the $555 million first phase of the project, which is the largest single contract the New York State Department of Transportation has ever undertaken. The Queens-bound bridge has three travel lanes in each direction of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway until the second, Brooklyn-bound bridge, is completed under a separate Phase II contract valued at $318 million. When the new bridge is complete, there will be five Queens-bound travel lanes of the BQE and four Brooklyn-bound travel lanes, plus a 20-foot multi-use trail. The bridge carries approximately 200,000 commuters daily.
According to Cuomo's office, 22 million pounds of steel from the old Brooklyn and Queens approaches will be recycled as scrap metal.
The felling process met all New York Codes, including New York City Fire Department Codes and MTA Codes.