The Demolition of the "Old" Jamestown Bridge
Originally posted February 2006 | Photo Gallery Below
The
old Jamestown Bridge is coming down. As many of you know, the
dismantling of the old bridge started in January with the removal of
large steel supports and moved on to the removal of the actual roadway,
making it impassable.
The overhead
structure is scheduled to be imploded into Narragansett Bay on April
18, 2006. A second blast will take out the concrete decks on either
sides of the structure shortly thereafter, and the last implosion will
destroy the two main piers which supported the bridge.
The
implosions will cause some delays to traffic on the
Jamestown-Verrazzano Bridge as well as the movement of vessels beneath.
The route 138 roadway could be closed for up to four hours at a time,
and there will be security zones imposed on the water throughout the
project. The main channel beneath the center span of the bridge will be
closed for up to six weeks following the first implosion. However,
mariners will be able to navigate under the other spans after the
blasting at their own risk. The objective is to have the main channel
re-opened by June.
Those who fish will be
happy to know that the concrete and other materials from the old bridge
will not go to waste. Instead, it will be transported offshore, where
it will be sunk in order to create artificial reefs.
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