Old U.S. 281 bridge piers demolished

FROM STAFF REPORTS

MARBLE FALLS — The final pieces of the old U.S. 281 bridge in Marble Falls were reduced to rubble April 5.
The explosive demolition of the remaining two piers from the structure shot water above the deck of the new span a little after 2 p.m.

Crews shut down U.S. 281 for about eight minutes at 2 p.m. to demolish the two concrete piers.

“Everything on Friday went according to plan,” said Texas Department of Transportation spokesperson Kelli Reyna. “We couldn’t be more pleased; the extra safety precautions we added paid off.”

Large blast pads — thick, heavy pads made of sewn-together used tires — were placed over the piers to reduce flying debris.

What was left of the piers barely stood above the water level of Lake Marble Falls. The charges placed in the piers were designed to break the concrete apart in order to make it quicker and easier to be removed from the lake.

Reyna said the March 17 implosion of the steel truss section of the bridge and the pier demolition saved TxDOT and contractor Archer Western two to three months on construction time.

“The sooner we can get the bridge built the sooner we can deliver a completed project to the citizens of Marble Falls,” Reyna said.

Officials with TxDOT say the second structure of the new 281 bridge project should be constructed by the fall of 2014.

[tabs style=”default”] [tab title=”PHOTO 1″]An explosion April 5 destroys the remaining piers from the old U.S. 281 bridge in Marble Falls. Staff photos by Daniel Clifton

[/tab] [tab title=”PHOTO 2″]An explosion April 5 destroys the remaining piers from the old U.S. 281 bridge in Marble Falls.

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Sandy and Jim McLaughlin watch from Lakeside Park in Marble Falls as crews prepare to demolish two remaining concrete piers from the old U.S. 281 bridge April 5. The steel portion of the bridge, which stood for 77 years, fell into the lake March 17 after crews imploded it.

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Spectators work their way out on a old, concrete structure adjacent to Lakeside Park in Marble Falls to get the best view as crew destroy two concrete piers from the old U.S. 281 bridge April 5.

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