MoDOT to blast footings of old Missouri River bridge at Rocheport

ROCHEPORT, Mo. (KMIZ)

Part of Interstate 70 was closed momentarily Tuesday afternoon due to the Missouri Department of Transportation blasting the footings of the old bridge, according to a release from the agency.

The interstate and surrounding area was closed and secured "during and immediately after the blast" on Tuesday afternoon, the release states. The blast took place just after 1 p.m..

The demolition team used controlled explosives to demo the footings of the old Missouri River bridge at Rocheport. Crews then checked the new westbound bridge to make sure debris was clear from the road before reopening the interstate to traffic.

This comes after a blast was conducted on Oct. 30, but the public wasn’t alerted. A project director told ABC 17 News that more than 30 planned explosions have occurred at the site of the old bridge.

Since then MoDOT has alerted the public ahead of similar blasts like the one on Nov. 5.