MANKATO, Minn. — On Wednesday, contractors conducted a controlled demolition of the remnants of a damaged bridge in southern Minnesota, a structure that narrowly avoided collapse last summer following severe rainfall that resulted in a federal emergency declaration for the Mankato area.

Utilizing explosives, the operation targeted the beams of the County Road 9 Bridge, according to an announcement made by Blue Earth County officials on social media. Footage from the scene captured perfectly timed detonations, leading to massive clouds of black and beige smoke as larger portions of the bridge collapsed into the frozen Blue Earth River beneath.

Last year, county commissioners made the decision to not only replace the bridge but to also remove the adjacent Rapidan Dam, both of which faced significant risks of failing after the intense flooding. The approximately 40-year-old bridge served as a crucial route for local residents, allowing them to travel from rural areas to nearby towns. Officials are preparing for a rebuilding phase that is expected to extend over several years.

The river experienced a substantial rise in water levels during late June and early July, following an extended period of heavy rainfall across the Midwest. Although the structures ultimately withstood the immediate threat, the floodwaters carved a new channel around the dam, eroded a steep riverbank, and caused damage that included the toppling of utility poles, destruction of a substation, inundation of a home, and the removal of a cherished local store.

Mankato is located approximately 80 miles (130 kilometers) to the south of Minneapolis.