Duquesne Light Elrama Power Station fully collapses after 2 implosions

ELRAMA, Pa. — Two blasts and 850 pounds of explosives were needed to take down the old Duquesne Light Power Station in Elrama, Washington County.

Friday morning’s implosion failed to take down the river-side wall and part of a side wall.

“It did come down like we thought it would,” Brian Baumann, President of B&B Wrecking and Excavation, told Channel 11 when speaking about the second blast. “You don’t plan on doing it twice, but you’re always ready if it has to happen.”

He tells Channel 11 something happened during the first implosion that crews didn’t expect.

“One part of the structure contains the boilers, the other contains the coal hoppers and they just separated,” he said. “How it came apart? We are going to look into and talk with our engineers about it.”

The second implosion used more than 450 lbs. of explosives, mostly dynamite, to bring down the remaining structure.

“Second time the charm, today,” Baumann said.

This is part of a long process. The next step is to cut up the scrap. Most of it will go to local steel mills. The aim is to have it finished by Thanksgiving.

Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW

©2023 Cox Media Group