Greater Lafayette’s Sagamore Parkway Bridge blown up

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) – Crews spent Tuesday morning blowing up a bridge over the Wabash River that has connected West Lafayette and Lafayette for decades.

Police cut off traffic from both west and eastbound lanes around 10 a.m., with the eastbound Sagamore Parkway Bridge coming down shortly afterwards.

Officials with the Indiana Department of Transportation have been preparing for weeks for the blast.

As the demolition continues and cleanup begins, crews will have 24 hours to pick up debris that fell into the Wabash River during the explosion.

West Lafayette Mayor John Dennis was one of today’s spectators, and he says this is a first-time experience for him.

“I have never seen one explode in my entire life,” Dennis said. “This is a pretty cool experience for an old, west-side guy.”

The new bridge will provide two 12-foot travel lanes, standard shoulders and a multi-use trail on the bridge deck.