Implosion streaming, timeline, other information

March 14, 2013, 9:01 pm by Adam Troxtell

A live stream of the US 281 bridge implosion will be available Sunday morning on our website. The implosion is to occur about 8 a.m. and will be broadcast live during KXAN-TV’s morning news program, which starts at 7 a.m.

Implosion timeline

4 a.m. Sunday:Boat traffic blocked within 1,000 feet of bridge.

7 a.m.: Lakeside Pavilion opens to public to view event.

7:50 a.m.:Traffic blocked on US 281, on north side at Second Street; south side at RR 2147/Gateway North.

8 a.m.: Blaster detonates charges.

Approx. 8:10 a.m.:After inspecting the blast area and new bridge to ensure of no complications or damage, traffic on US 281 to resume.

Approx. 8 a.m. Monday: The 1,000 foot barrier is removed for boat traffic and the lake is open. A 100-foot channel on the south side of the lake will be open for boaters under the bridge while excavator removes debris from lake.

Saturday, March 23:All bridge debris removed from lake.

Friday morning, March 29: Bridge traffic again shut down, a 1,000-foot barrier for boat traffic again imposed on either side of bridge for blast to demolish concrete piers. Lake closure should last two hours. Bridge traffic expected to be stopped for a few minutes.

TxDOT & Contractor: ‘Don’t Worry’

-Implosion won’t damage any nearby businesses or homes.

-They believe they can predict the force of the implosion so precisely they’re only taking precautions to protect one business in the area, the River City Grille, while ignoring Chili’s next door and doing nothing at a nearby RV Park but telling people to stay inside their homes.

-Even though federal safety regulators required workers cutting beams from the bridge late last week to wear protective suits and respirators, toxic substances – such as lead paint – have been removed and will not be released into the water.

-There will be a dust cloud, but it won’t contain hazardous materials or settle so thickly on nearby homes, lawns and businesses that they’ll need to be washed.

-If you stay inside, close your windows, and make sure your air conditioning doesn’t induct it, you won’t be breathing it. So you should be fine.

-There are three TxDOT bureaucrats who say they’ll help by referring your damage complaint to their contractors and their subcontractors who will send it to their insurance companies.

-The blast should not kill fish in the lake because they’ll be shocked to the surface and removed prior to the blast.

-The detonation won’t harm the new concrete bridge span only a few feet east of the blast.

-Engineers can clear any debris, make sure the new bridge is safe and halt traffic on US 281 for only about 20 minutes – 10 before the blast and 10 after.

-All debris from the bridge implosion will be removed from the lake within six days after the blast.

-Boats will be able to travel a channel beneath the bridge within 24 hours.

~ Sources: Press releases and statements by TxDOT and Archer Western officials.

TxDOT & Contractor Say ‘Don’t Worry’

According to them:

• The implosion won’t damage any nearby businesses or homes.
• They believe they can predict the force of the implosion so precisely they’re only taking precautions to protect one business in the area, the River City Grille, while ignoring Chili’s next door and only telling people at a nearby RV park to stay inside their homes.
• Even though federal safety regulators required workers cutting beams from the bridge late last week to wear protective suits and respirators, toxic substances – such as lead paint – have been removed and will not be released into the water or air.
• There will be a dust cloud, but it won’t contain hazardous materials or settle so thickly on nearby homes, lawns, vehicles and businesses that they’ll need to be washed.
• If you stay inside, close your windows, and make sure your air conditioning system doesn’t induct it, you won’t be breathing it. So you should be fine.
• You can call three TxDOT bureaucrats who’ll sending your damage complaint to their contractors and their subcontractor who’ll send it to their insurance companies.
• The blast shouldn’t kill fish in the lake because they’ll be shocked to the surface and removed earlier.
• The detonation won’t harm the new concrete bridge span only a few feet to the east.
• Engineers can clear any debris, make sure the new bridge is safe and halt traffic on US 281 for only about 20 minutes – 10 before the blast and 10 after.
• All debris will be removed from the lake within six days of the blast.
• Boats will be able to travel a channel beneath the bridge within 24 hours.

~ Sources: Press releases, statements by TxDOT and Archer Western officials.

Who to call for bridge implosion damage claims:

Greg Malatek, TxDOT Austin District Engineer

512.832.7022 Greg.Malatek@txdot.gov

Howard Lyons, TxDOT Burnet Area Engineer

512.756.2316 Howard.Lyons@txdot.gov

Kelli Reyna, TxDOT Public Information Officer

512.832.7060 Kelli.Reyna@txdot.gov

More stories, photos, and extensive coverage of the bridge implosion will be available in a special Tuesday edition of The Highlander  to commemorate this historic event.