Bridge To Be Blown Up

Construction crews will use explosives this week to remove parts of Fairfax Bridge connecting Missouri and Kansas to make way for a new replacement bridge.

Northbound and southbound U.S. 69 will be closed from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday to accommodate the demolition work.

Crews will use two blasts to remove the end spans of the bridge. The first is set for 9 a.m. Friday and the second about a half hour later. The part of the bridge that spans the Missouri River is set to be torn down by blasts on Jan. 30.

A spokesman for the Missouri Department of Transportation says the Friday work is contingent upon the weather.

The new U.S. 69 bridge is expected to open to traffic in 2016.