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POINT MARION, Pa. (AP) Pennsylvania's Department of Transportation has used 12 pounds of explosives to bring one of the state's most structurally problematic bridges crashing into a river.

The Point Marion Bridge connected Fayette and Greene counties in western Pennsylvania for some 80 years until it was imploded Monday morning.

PennDOT engineer Darin Glitz says the bridge could no longer carry the level of traffic that crosses the Monongahela (muh-nahn-guh-HEE'-luh) River.

A new bridge has opened to replace the original, which was just 15 feet from it.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 11-16-09 1903CST | save this article / add to your favorites list