Bridge demolition suspended after falling concrete causes damage

A bridge demolition is on hold after pieces of concrete debris fell off site and caused damage below, a report by the Jersey Journal says. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey says the large chunk of debris fell off the Bayonne Bridge and damaged three vehicles on Staten Island, New York.

The demolition is part of a replacement project that raises the bridge from 151 feet to 215 feet to allow new larger container ships to pass under it. According to the report, crews were working on a span of bridge between Bayonne, New Jersey, and Staten Island when the incident occurred. The project began in 2013 and is scheduled for completion in mid-2019.

The demolition is suspended and Steve Coleman, Port Authority spokesman, says the authority is evaluating the incident. This is the second time the project was suspended, the report says. Last month, it was halted on the Bayonne side due to excessive dust.