Bridge near Rapidan Dam demolished in Blue Earth County

VIDEO: Bridge near the Rapidan Dam demolished in Blue Earth County
Demolition efforts for the bridge near the failed Rapidan Dam are underway in Blue Earth County. On Wednesday, controlled explosives went off, severing the bridge beams of County Road 9, just a short distance away from the Rapidan Dam.
Bridge near Rapidan Dam demolished
The BriefThe County Road 9 bridge near the destroyed Rapidan Dam was demolished with explosives on Wednesday.The Blue Earth County Board of Commissioners voted to remove the dam and replace the bridge after the dam was breached in June 2024.
Crews use explosives to bring down bridge by failed Rapidan Dam
Heavy rain back in June 2024 caused severe flooding that breached the Rapidan Dam on the western side. Erosion around the supports of the bridge led county officials to decide to remove and replace the bridge due to safety concerns. Blue Earth County recently hired Barr Engineering to plan the removal of the Rapidan Dam.
County Road 9 Bridge in Blue Earth County demolished with explosives
The decking is stripped off the County Road 9 bridge that was damaged in flooding near the Rapidan Dam near Mankato. (JP Lawrence/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Flood-damaged Rapidan Dam expected to be razed in 2027-28
A Twin Cities engineering firm hired to design the demise of the Rapidan Dam expects it to disappear by the end of 2028 — 118 years after the structure was completed southwest of Mankato, Minn.
WATCH: Co. Road 9 bridge by Rapidan Dam demolished
Blue Earth County officials shared footage of the County Road 9 bridge demolition on Wednesday. The bridge was set to be replaced after the nearby Rapidam Dam was breached in June 2024. The rushing water destroyed an Xcel Energy substation and caused a home along the bank to fall into the river.
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Crews use explosives to bring down damaged bridge
A subcontractor of the company hired to remove the County Road 9 bridge over the Blue Earth River used explosive charges to ...