Fire marshal OKs explosives permit

March 04, 2013, 9:00 pm by Adam Troxtell

Construction workers have removed much of the concrete deck of the old US 281 bridge, exposing the metal frame that will be demolished with explosives later this month. A presentation on the use of explosives will be given tonight at 6 p.m. at City Hall.

The use of explosives on the US 281 bridge is a step closer to being set in stone, as TxDOT received a permit from the Marble Falls fire marshal approving the measure last week ahead of a Tuesday public meeting on the bridge demolition.

Johnny Caraway, Marble Falls Fire Rescue fire chief and city fire marshall, said he granted a permit – a requirement to use explosives in a demolition in the city – after reviewing TxDOT’s demolition plans and steps they will take to ensure public safety.

Many of the same things TxDOT showed Caraway for the permit will be available for an interested public during a presentation for City Council by the state agency, general contractor for the bridge project Archer Western, and demolition subcontractor Omega Demolition Corporation at their general meeting at City Hall at 6 p.m.

A presentation will also be given at a Daybreak Rotary Club meeting at River City Grille at 7 a.m. and the public can attend.

"They had to produce the scope of the work,” Caraway said. "They had to show me the safety measures they would take. They have what appears to be a good plan. It’s very extensive and very thorough.”

For the full story, see Tuesday's Highlander.