Friday blast for defunct river crossing.
Tennessee Department of Transportation contract crews imploded Friday the old State Route 109 Bridge that stretched across the Cumberland River at the Sumner County line.
TDOT officials briefly stopped traffic on the newly built bridge for the bridge implosion. Lanes were reopened to traffic shortly after the blast.
Demolition crews used explosives to bring down the truss-style bridge built in the early 1950s. The old structure showed signs of aging and was listed as structurally deficient prior to its implosion.
Construction began in 2011 on a new $29.5 million concrete and steel bridge, which was built beside the original structure. One lane in each direction on the new bridge was opened in March. The remaining two lanes are expected to be complete by the fall.
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