New York bridge is demolished to make way for new one

New York's old Kosciuszko Bridge was demolished yesterday (1 October) after 78 years of serving New York City commuters.

The bridge used to connect Greenpoint in Brooklyn and Maspeth, Queens and according to the New York Times the bridge was originally built to accommodate 10,000 cars a day but ended up taking 180,000 vehicles.

See also: London's Garden Bridge project scrapped

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The main part of the bridge was dismantled in July this year.

Just before 8am, Governor Andrew Cuomo counted down the seconds to the energetic felling of the bridge as a crowd looked on from the viewing area.

The bridge was wired with 944 small 12-pound charges and the ground piled with shock-absorbing sand ahead of of the demolition, according to the New York Times.

The main expanse of the bridge was lowered onto a barge and removed in late July, New York Daily News reported, after the first part of the replacement bridge opened.

The complete removal will make way for the second new span, which is set to be ready in 2019.