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Explosions can’t bring down Arkansas bridge

The steel arch of the Broadway Bridge falls into the Arkansas River after being pulled down by a pair of tug boats, Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016 in Little Rock, Ark. Despite triggering explosives to bring down the bridge, a demolition crew needed five hours to fell the structure. (Staton Breidenthal/The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette via AP)
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THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
October 12, 2016 - 5:52 am
 

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — It turns out a 93-year-old bridge deemed structurally deficient wasn’t so weak after all.

Despite triggering explosives to bring down the Broadway Bridge between Little Rock and North Little Rock on Tuesday, a demolition crew needed five hours to fell the structure. Severing the steel arch and bridge deck should have taken about 30 seconds.

Arkansas highway department spokesman Danny Straessle says the blasts weakened the span, but parts of the bridge fell against themselves and none fell into the Arkansas River. Ultimately, crews attached a cable to the bridge and pulled it down.

Three other implosions are planned during a six-month project to bring down the old bridge and put up a new one.

Workers have until Wednesday to remove steel from the water so barge traffic can resume.

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