Article may be outdated

This article is 3 days old. Some details may have changed since publication.

Times of India·2 min read·easy

In 2016, Arkansas tried to blow up a 93-year-old bridge; it simply wobbled back

T
TOI WORLD DESK
In 2016, Arkansas tried to blow up a 93-year-old bridge; it simply wobbled back
AI Summary

In 2016, a demolition crew in Arkansas struggled to bring down the 93-year-old Broadway Bridge using controlled explosives. The structure remained standing after the initial blast, requiring crews to use cables and barges to complete the demolition hours later.

Why it matters

The event serves as a notable example of the unpredictability of structural engineering and demolition projects involving aging infrastructure.

Dive DeeperCreate a free account to unlock

The explosives went off as planned. The 93-year-old bridge, however, did not. On October 11, 2016, a demolition crew attempted to bring down Arkansas's aging Broadway Bridge with a controlled implosion, clearing the way for a new $98.4 million crossing between Little Rock and North Little Rock. Instead of collapsing into the Arkansas River, the old structure remained standing. The blasts had weakened the bridge, but parts of it fell against themselves, leaving the main span damaged yet stubbornly in place. Crews eventually had to attach cables to the structure and pull it down about five hours after the failed implosion. The unusual demolition became one of the most memorable episodes in the history of a bridge that had served central Arkansas for more than nine decades.

Continue reading on Headlinne

Create a free account to read the full article.

Read full article →
scienceenvironment

Get smarter about the news

Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.

Create free account

Already have an account? Sign in