(CAMERON)   It took only 2 seconds for the mile long Little River Bridge east of Cameron, to be removed from Texas Highway system Tuesday.  At approximately 5:25 p.m. explosives were detonated, and the 57 year old bridge became a pile of rubble amidst of plume of smoke and concrete dust.  (Here's how it sounded)

Allan Thompson, a U. S. Department of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms-licensed explosives expert with Engineer Explosive Service of San Antonio detonated 3 thousand pounds of explosives that were strategically placed in each of the 67 concrete columns.  Hundreds of spectators gathered at each end of the bridge to view the implosion.  However they were unable to get a good view of the after affects because there were no winds to carry the plume of dust and smoke that hovered over the area reducing visibility to near zero until after dark. 

Texas Department of Transportation Spokesman Bob Colwell told KMIL News immediately after the blast that the implosion went off without a hitch.  (Audio)

Colwell said some of the rubble will be recycled for the new road.  (Audio)

James Construction Group of Temple has been contracted by TxDOT for a $26.4 million highway widening project from Highway 77 in Cameron to the Hwy 36/77 intersection east of Cameron.  The project includes Two double lane bridges over Little River, one of which has been completed, 4-lane divided highways with median in the rural areas, and widening of the railroad underpass in Cameron. 

Three seismographs were set up on the new bridge to record shocks, according to Robert Cochrane, TxDOT area engineer for Milam and Robertson Counties.  Tuesday’s blast shook shelves in the TxDOT field office, and was felt in town, but as engineers expected, the post-detination report showed no damaging vibrations. 

To View a video of the implosion, click here.

Please be patient while the file buffers and/or downloads.  This is a large file (5mb) for better video quality.