Rumsey Bridge Implosion

October 4, 2005 - The Rumsey Bridge across the Potomac, built after the 1936 flood which took out the former bridge, was partially imploded. Part of the bridge on the West Virginia side remained standing, but was taken down successfully a couple of days later.

A crowd of a couple of hundred gathered by the nearby Rumsey Monument to watch the spectacle.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• shepherdstown
• wv
• west
• virginia
• implosion
• potomac
• river
• demolition
• blown
• up

[SurfTurkery88]

Nice work capturing the moment. I am a civil engineer and for twenty years have watched the concrete of the old bridge spalling or pulling away from its supporting reinforcing bars at least on the surface as seen from the roadway when driving across it heading for Hagerstown. This bridge was in very bad need of repair or replacement. A significant percentage, something like 60%+, of bridges in the U.S. are still in place well beyond their operational lifespans, often even after retrofitting.

[mugreentj]

yay, a brand new bridge for maryland's terrible drivers to come into wv so they can build more beautiful unique dan ryan estates...

[obxbaby54]

I always hated that old bridge. Haven't been back home to drive across the new one, but I will, I will. Great video!

[jessilyn1830]

wow i love that someone caught this on video, i wish i had been there =)