Never play cards with the Joker

A Beginner’s Guide to Bridge Demolition

Part 1 – Part 2 – Part 3 – Citations

Introduction

“I’m a simple man. I like dynamite, and gunpowder, and gasoline!” – The Joker.

With the growing number of engineering services available today, it’s easy to do some realistic comparisons. This article provides some great tips and helpful hints as it applies to why using an engineer is the safest way to demolish bridges. Whether its complete bridge demolition or selective demolitions complete control and predictable outcomes is synonymous with safety. This article will be published in 3 parts for you to enjoy. It will include some pretty wild videos that illustrate demolition done properly and demolition gone bad. Here is the introduction.

The Necessity of Bridge Demolition

Since time immortal the human race has been fascinated with the awesome destructive authority of nature.  In our day and age we are able to manifest that destruction ourselves by harnessing the powers of science, however that segue is not meant to state that demolition is a means to satiate our carnal desire to see big explosions; rather, once in a while it can benefit our local municipality to be a little destructive.  This article discusses in specific why bridge demolition is necessary, and covers several common processes for doing so.  For those of you surfing the web on your coffee break, rest easy, you’ll see plenty of bridges being blown up.

The world is an ever-changing place, and this is especially true throughout civilization’s boom within the last hundred years.  Bridges built in the past are reaching their design life, or are being loaded with weights not expected when initially designed; they therefore must be replaced or repaired.  If the bridge is to be repaired, some of the existing structure may have to be demolished.  If the bridge is to be replaced, the entire structure will have to be demolished.  Based on the age, location, use, design, and condition of the overall structural elements, the form of bridge demolition will become evident.

The above is a basic introduction to what you are about to see. Are you ready to have a blast? Get out the popcorn and chips and prepare yourself for some of the most riveting demolition footage you’ll ever see.