See the moment when the bridge over the Estreito dos Mosquitos, at the entrance to São Luís, is imploded; VIDEO

The Marcelino Machado Bridge, on BR-135, in São Luís, was imploded this Sunday (1st). The action took place at 11 am to allow the reconstruction of the closed structure.

The operation required the total closure of the highway from 10am to 4pm. The work was coordinated by the Civil Defense of São Luís with other bodies.

Built in 1960, the old bridge had been closed since April due to structural problems. The parallel structure, leaving the capital, was not demolished.

The reconstruction, budgeted at R$176.7 million, should be completed in 2027. The work had been delayed due to a lack of authorization for the use of explosives.

The Marcelino Machado Bridge, over the Estreito dos Mosquitos, on BR-135, which connects São Luís to the mainland, was imploded at around 11am this Sunday (1st). Images recorded the moment the explosives were triggered and sections of the structure gave way after the detonation.

In the video, it is possible to see parts of the bridge collapsing after the explosion. The demolition is part of the reconstruction work on the structure, which had been closed since April this year after presenting structural problems.

The operation required the total closure of BR-135, scheduled to take place from 10am to 4pm. According to the National Department of Transport Infrastructure (DNIT), the closures were scheduled for two points on the highway: at km 22, at the São Luís exit, and at km 40, in Bacabeira, for vehicles heading towards the capital.

The implosion was coordinated by the Civil Defense of São Luís, together with other bodies, to guarantee the safety of residents, drivers and teams involved in the operation.

The demolished structure was built in 1960 and was 459 meters long. It was part of the São Luís entrance direction and was closed after technical inspections identified structural problems.

According to DNIT, the assessments identified displacement of concrete blocks, corrosion of the metal jacket, cracks, oxidation of reinforcement and loss of structural rigidity. Given the conditions found, the agency decided to demolish the bridge and build a new structure.

The implosion was initially scheduled for October 18, but was postponed due to the lack of legal authorization from the Brazilian Army to use explosives.

The Marcelino Machado Bridge is made up of two parallel structures. The bridge towards the exit from São Luís, 465 meters long, was not part of the demolition.

The reconstruction is scheduled to be completed in 2027, but there is still no set date for delivery.

The contract to carry out the work has a value of R$ 176.7 million and was signed with the Consórcio Ponte Estreito Maranhão, formed by the companies Construtora A. Gaspar S/A and Arteleste Construções Ltda.

The contract covers all the steps necessary to replace the closed structure, from the preparation of studies and projects to the construction of the new bridge.

The crossing is considered strategic as it concentrates the main land access to the capital of Maranhão, including cargo transport and supplying the city.