Hundreds of people gathered along the Mississippi River Monday morning to watch the demolition of the 80-year-old Chester Bridge, marking the end of an era for the crossing between Illinois and Missouri.
Strategically placed explosives brought the old bridge down in a matter of seconds, sending the structure into the Mississippi River as spectators watched from the riverfront.
Demolition crews designed the blast to bring the bridge straight down and keep the collapse within a controlled area. Crews will now begin removing the remaining pieces of the structure from the river.
The historic bridge has been replaced by the new $307.1 million Don Welge Memorial Bridge, constructed through a partnership involving Missouri, Illinois and the federal government.
The new bridge is named in honor of the late Don Welge, former president and CEO of Gilster-Mary Lee Corporation, who advocated for years for construction of a safer replacement crossing.
The demolition closes another chapter in the transition to the new bridge connecting Chester, Illinois, with Perryville, Missouri.