Demolition Crews Begin Tearing Down Metrodome Walls

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MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) Its a milestone week in the demolition of the Metrodome, with crews starting to knock holes in the exterior walls, starting with the northeast corner.

Its a rugged yet meticulous process, bringing down a stadium that used to have the nickname Thunder Dome. Now, all the decibels are coming from heavy machinery, smashing steel and concrete, section by section.

Allen Troshinsky is Director of Operations for Mortenson Constructions sports group.

As the weeks progress, he said, youll see coming out of that northeast corner, the hole in the building opening up and working its way in two directions both clockwise and counter-clockwise.

Blowing up the stadium with explosives would have caused too much dust and vibration to other downtown buildings, so crews are using a wrecking ball and a high reach excavating machine with a muncher attachment, which severs the structure.

Theyll go in and strategically make structural cuts in the concrete or the steel, said Troshinksy, and cause elements to collapse.

Crews took all the seats out of the Metrodome weeks ago. And now, 90 percent of whats left is going off to reclaiming and recycling facilities.

Scrap steel is recycled into new steel and that could go into possibly new construction, Troshinksy said.

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Demolition Crews Begin Tearing Down Metrodome Walls