Ahmad Afifeh is the Iowa Department of Transportation's Senior Project Manager for the I-74 Corridor Project. In June, he says all went as planned, with the Helm Group perfectly executing the eastbound bridge demolition plan.
On Sunday, August 27th, the company will repeat the process with a few differences. A lot of what's left is below the surface of the Mississippi River, plus the towers and piers.
During the last couple of months, Afifeh says Helm has been using jackhammers above the water to tear down the remaining structures. The company has also been using divers and other equipment to remove parts of the bridge that are underwater.
The new, I-74 bridge will be closed for about an hour Sunday morning, starting at 7:00. River traffic will also be stopped for up to a day.
The bridge project team is encouraging people to watch the demolition online using webcams HERE.
