This Sunday, October 12, Bogota lived the controlled implosion of the vehicular bridges located at the intersection of Avenida de las Américas (Calle 13) with Carrera 50as part of the megaproject of the New 13th Street.
The operation was carried out around 10:47 am, after some prior technical adjustments, and the detonation lasted just a few seconds. In total, 138 detonators were used, some of which had to be checked and replaced before the procedurewhich caused a delay of approximately 47 minutes.
(You can read: Implosion of the bridges on 13th Street and Carrera 50, in Bogotá).
According to the mayor, Carlos Fernando Galán“The report is all good so far. We also have general information about the entities that there is nothing, no news to report.”.
🧨 The implosion of the bridges at the intersection of 13th Street and 50th Street, known as ‘El Pulpo’, took place in the town of Puente Aranda, in Bogotá.
🌉 This operation is part of what will be the construction of Section 1 of New Street 13, which will have… pic.twitter.com/K8iheTeOln
— Portfolio (@Portafolioco) October 12, 2025
The demolition method (an implosion with strategically arranged explosives) was chosen so that the bridges would collapse on themselvesminimizing the risk to the surroundings. It was the first time that this technique was used for vehicular bridges in the country’s capital.
(You may be interested in: What is needed for the Commuter Train to materialize? The ICC explains it).
The main objective of this act was to accelerate the demolition, since according to the authorities, with a conventional method the process could have taken about one more year. The work will make way for a new three-level intersection that promises to transform mobility between Kennedy, Fontibón and Puente Aranda.
Results
The process was completed without any major incidents or damages reported.. The technique used (with an explosive gel that guaranteed a controlled fall towards the center) allowed the structures to collapse precisely, without affecting adjacent buildings.
Implosion of bridges on 13th Street and Carrera 50, in Bogotá
Néstor Gómez / Portfolio
Implosion of bridges on 13th Street and Carrera 50, in Bogotá
Néstor Gómez / Portfolio
Implosion of bridges on 13th Street and Carrera 50, in Bogotá
Néstor Gómez / Portfolio
Implosion of bridges on 13th Street and Carrera 50, in Bogotá
Néstor Gómez / Portfolio
Implosion of bridges on 13th Street and Carrera 50, in Bogotá
Néstor Gómez / Portfolio
Implosion of bridges on 13th Street and Carrera 50, in Bogotá
Néstor Gómez / Portfolio
Orlando Molano, director of the IDUpointed out that the bridges had more than 40 years of service, and highlighted that with this intervention time was saved on the job by eliminating old structures quickly.
According to plans, the first phase of the new section of 13th Street will benefit more than three million people, and the total 11.4-kilometer intervention could be ready by 2030.
PORTFOLIO
