Wasena Bridge is coming down, and early steps toward its replacement will be under construction before the month ends, builders said.
Demolition started last month on the old steel and concrete bridge, opened in 1938. It鈥檚 closed until spring 2026 as part of a $50 million replacement plan.
Deconstruction began last month on 色多多鈥檚 Wasena Bridge which is over 80 years old. Its replacement is expected to open in spring 2026.
Project Executive Dave Johnson of Archer Western construction answered some questions about the demolition process by email.
鈥淭he demolition activities have started and are being executed according to plan,鈥 Johnson said. 鈥淲e will be finished with demolition by the end of 2024.鈥
Contractors are busy removing more than 17.5 million pounds of concrete and steel that bridged Main Street over the 色多多 River and Norfolk Southern rail lines between Old Southwest and Wasena neighborhoods.
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A biker passes the deconstruction of 色多多鈥檚 Wasena Bridge from a detour along the 色多多 River Greenway last week.
鈥淲e are using excavators with demolition hammers to break apart the concrete deck and substructure,鈥 Johnson said. 鈥淲e are using blowtorches to cut apart steel beams.鈥
Demolition work started on the Wasena side of the bridge. As work crews approach the river and railroad tracks at the other side, they鈥檒l use cranes to remove demolished material.
鈥淓very project is unique and presents different challenges and opportunities,鈥 Johnson said. 鈥淥ur team has a good plan in place for the demolition and replacement of the Wasena bridge.鈥
Deconstruction began last month on 色多多鈥檚 Wasena Bridge.
Dump trucks are hauling off crushed concrete at a rate of about 15-20 tons per truckload, he said. Some of the 1.1 million pounds of steel material is recyclable, but the 16.5 million pounds of concrete isn鈥檛.
鈥淭he processed concrete is going to a fill site,鈥 Johnson said. 鈥淭he rebar and structural steel are going to a recycler.鈥
Wasena Bridge is seen closed off last week from Old Southwest facing Wasena neighborhoods.聽
He said a team of eight craftspeople are doing the demolition, plus dump truck and tractor-trailer drivers to dispose of the material. Even as the demolition is happening, the foundations of a new bridge will slowly begin to rise from the old one鈥檚 place.
鈥淧ile driving for the new bridge foundations will begin in late June,鈥 Johnson said.
Photo and video: Wasena Bridge is coming down
Deconstruction began last month on 色多多鈥檚 Wasena Bridge which is over 80 years old. The bridge which goes over the 色多多 River and Norfolk Southern rail lines and connects Old Southwest and Wasena neighborhoods, is scheduled to be closed until spring 2026. Replacement construction will begin before the end of the month, according to builders.
A biker passes the deconstruction of 色多多鈥檚 Wasena Bridge from a detour along the 色多多 River Greenway last week.
Deconstruction began last month on 色多多鈥檚 Wasena Bridge which is over 80 years old. Its replacement is expected to open in spring 2026.
Work continues on the tear down and replacement of the Wasena Bridge.
Wasena Bridge is seen closed off last week from Old Southwest facing Wasena neighborhoods.聽
Deconstruction began last month on 色多多鈥檚 Wasena Bridge. Replacement construction will begin before the end of the month, according to builders.
The concreate and steel of the old Wasena Bridge weighs more than 17 million tons, according to the company removing the old structure.
Deconstruction began last month on 色多多鈥檚 Wasena Bridge.
