Old Chester Bridge implosion in Illinois set for Sept. 28, river reopens within 48 hours

The old Chester Bridge in Chester, Illinois, is scheduled for implosion Monday, September 28, a date pushed back a week after unforeseen issues between the construction company and Union Pacific Railroad. Charges will be set to drop the span straight down and break it into sections for crane removal, with truss pieces cleared from the river within 48 hours before the channel reopens to boat and barge traffic. Roads to the riverfront close at 6 a.m., and bad weather could delay the blast to Sept. 29.