Stunning Video Shows Moment Explosion Crumbles Bridge Over Illinois River

A central Illinois city is being rocked by explosions, but it is all for a good reason.

The Illinois Department of Transportation is currently using explosive devices to demolish sections of a bridge in Peoria.

Why Did A Bridge Explode In Peoria?

The demolition is part of a construction project to replace the 70-year-old McClugage Bridge that takes vehicles over the Illinois River on Route 150 between Peoria and East Peoria.

Construction started in Spring 2019. The first lanes of the new bridge opened in December 2024.

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With the new lanes open, it was time to do something with the old bridge that IDOT says was no longer meeting the area's transportation needs. The department scheduled six explosions between March 27 and the week of June 16.

How To Watch McClugage Bridge Explosions

Who doesn't love a good explosive demolition video?

Footage from each explosion has been shared on IDOT's social media. The video from April 9 is shot from right next to the bridge as we see pieces blasted into the air.

Traffic was rerouted away from the bridge in anticipation of the late morning explosion, but that didn't stop people in the area from feeling the effects of the blast.

"It shook my house in the (Peoria) Heights," Amanda Beyer said in a comment on IDOT's Facebook.

Additional videos posted to the department's YouTube channel show the explosion from the road leading up to the bridge.

The most recent explosion was used to demolish the underdeck truss of the bridge on the Peoria side of the river. The next blast, scheduled for the week of April 14, will be the largest of the seven explosions as it will be used to take out the main portion of the bridge.

Future demolition blasts are planned for the weeks of April 21, May 26, June 9 and June 16.