Traffic will be interrupted on the new bridge around noon Tuesday so that a 1,000-foot clear zone can be established for the detonation. The contractor plans to briefly halt traffic on the bridge for 10 to 15 minutes.
The public can watch the blast from the Kenlake State Park Amphitheater, but it will be mostly below water level, and not as spectacular as the detonation that took down the truss spans of the bridge in July.
The first round of blasts was set to occur Monday morning, then delayed until later in the day.
Original Story:
Underwater blasting next to the Eggners Ferry Bridge has been delayed until this afternoon.
Traffic will be interrupted at some point this afternoon on the new Eggners Ferry Bridge so demolition can continue on the old bridge structure. In recent weeks, the contractor has used jackhammers to chip away the above-water sections of the piers. Today, underwater sections will be demolished with explosives.
To make a safe zone for the detonation, the contractor plans to briefly halt traffic on the bridge for 10 to 15 minutes.
A second blast will take place on Tuesday around noon.
There will be a 1,000 foot clear zone around the blast site. The public may observe the blast from the Kenlake State Park Amphitheater. However, the blast will be mostly below water level and not as spectacular as the blast that took down the truss spans of the structure in July.
Once each pier been imploded, KYTC inspectors will check the new bridge for debris before allowing highway traffic to be restored. All boat traffic through the bridge construction zone will also be halted for a short time to facilitate the blast.
Following the blast, the contractor will move equipment back into the area to recover debris from the bottom of the lake.
