Greenfield Bridge Demolition On Schedule

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- The countdown to the demolition of the Greenfield Bridge is down to less than two weeks, and the biggest concern is avoiding damage to the Parkway East.

Contractors are confident the highway will only be closed a handful of days.

Two weekends of pre-demolition work has left the 93-year old Greenfield Bridge a skeleton of its glory days.

"They've dismantled everything they are going to be dismantling prior to demolition," Pittsburgh Public Works Assistant Director Pat Hassert says.

As it stands now, the bridge demolition will take place after 9 a.m. on Dec 28.

While no damage to the homes is expected the city would like the folks in the two houses closest to the bridge to leave during the implosion, while others near by can stay, but not near windows.

The only public viewing point will be in Schenley Park near the skating rink, looking through the trees.

The primary job now is to drill the more than 200-holes for the explosives, and to help protect the Parkway East below.

They're wrapping each section to hold-in the power of the blasts.

The under structure will help reduce the impact on the Parkway and beneath the under structure and stretching out for 50-feet in each direction.

"We're putting in a mat of about five-feet of dirt over the Parkway to further try to cushion the blow," Hassert says.

The plan is for zero damage and the Parkway cleared and open by New Years Eve.

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