Bridge Demolition

A total of seventeen Division 24 Auxiliary members assisted State and Federal agencies with the demolition of the Clement Comer Clay Bridge that spans the Tennessee River at Mile Marker 333.3. The Auxiliarists provided a safety zone around Scott Bridge Company while they placed 60 charges on the bridge.

Once the charges were in place the river was officially closed by the Coast Guard Captain of the Port. This particular section of the river was closed during the demolition because the 300 foot span of the bridge was located directly over the main channel.

Beginning on the morning of August 31st, an Auxiliary vessel from the Redstone Arsenal Flotilla hit the water to assist the Coast Guard unit from Marine Safety Detachment Nashville, Army Corps of Engineers, Tennessee Valley Authority Police and the Alabama Marine Police. They provided a safety zone around the Clement Comer Clay at Ditto Landing, Huntsville, AL.

During the operation, each unit was relieved by other Auxiliary vessels from the Whitesburg Flotilla, the Huntsville Flotilla, and the Guntersville Flotilla. Personnel from the Scottsboro Flotilla also participated. Auxiliary facilities kept onlookers a safe distance from the explosion, then maintained a safety zone for the bridge construction crew during the clean-up of the debris.

The river remained closed until the debris of the span was removed and the area was surveyed to insure that the channel was clear for traffic. During the clean up the Auxiliary continued patrolling the safety zone. Three sections of the bridge have already been dropped and recovered. The three remaining sections are scheduled for demolition at a later date.