Demolition News feed being used by National Demolition Association.

For the past six months or so, the US has been our fastest-growing source of readers and subscribers here at Demolition News. But, just recently, there has been an unexpected but welcome spike in traffic originating in the good ol’ US or A.

And now we know why.

We had an email last night that pointed out the fact that some of our news stories are now appearing on the home page of the National Demolition Association NDA), the world’s biggest demolition trade organisation representing the largest demolition market in the world.

The NDA Newsroom is a rolling feed of demolition news from around the world and we’re flattered and delighted to be a part of it. “Looking back, we were really taking a gamble when we launched Demolition News just over a year ago. We regularly asked ourselves whether there would be sufficient news to keep the site interesting, sufficient web-literate readers to support it, and sufficient advertisers to make it at least pay for itself,” says founder Mark Anthony. “But in just 12 months, the site has grown from daily updates to more than 50 updates per week; the readership grows literally by the day; and the site is largely self-sufficient thanks to the support of our advertisers and sponsors. The fact that our news feeds are now being used by the National Demolition Association in the US together with the National Federation of Demolition Contractors and the Institute of Demolition Engineers in the UK really underlines the fact that we’re now recognised as a legitimate and authoritative source of industry news, one that is faster and more responsive than any other industry publication or forum in existence.”

Anthony also points to the ongoing development of the Demolition News website in the face of a global economy as a key to the site’s ongoing growth. “Like the industry we have served, we have had to batten down the hatches in the face of this recession. But we have continued to invest to make the site bigger and better. We have added a Business Directory, a Used Equipment section and a weekly email newsletter, and we’re just a few days away from adding another exciting new section to the site that we believe will help make Demolition News the industry’s preferred choice of demolition news and advice,” he says. “A very good friend of the site recently used the Field of Dreams movie tagline about this site: ‘if you build it, they will come’ and he’s been proved absolutely right. Our readership is growing almost daily, and with each day we’re acquiring new readers from as far afield as Australia and China.”

Anthony further believes that the growth of the site is indicative of a move away from paper-based publishing towards a more instant form of news gathering. “Demolition is a fast-paced business and demolition professionals are no longer willing to wait two or three months to hear the ‘latest news’. They want today’s news today,” he concludes. “International demolition magazines are fine if you want something to put on the coffee table in your company’s reception area. But if you want the latest news, there is nowhere more up-to-date than Demolition News.”

The last of the Miami River bridge implosions is now just five days away.

The final section of the Miami river bridge will collapse into the Missouri River at 7 am on Wednesday 11 November, according to a Missouri Department of Transportation news release.

The section is being imploded in the last of a three part demolition project. The implosion can be viewed from the public river access area near the bridge.

The Miami River Bridge project calls for a partial replacement of the bridge. The overhead truss will be removed along with all the current decking and girders.

Read the full story here.

Carbon County convent dismantled piece-by-piece.

Video showing the piece-by-piece demolition of Saint Ann’s Convent in Lansford.

Governor delivers long-awaited payment promise to St Bernard subcontractors.

On 28 August 2005, Hurricane Katrina ripped through New Orleans to become the costliest and one of the five deadliest in US history. More than four years on and New Orleans’ residents are still recovering.

It is almost two years since a team of subcontractors – including several demolition companies – helped demolish the St Bernard Parish homes damaged by Katrina; and many are still to be paid.

However, according to New Orleans City Business, there’s now a light at the end of the tunnel for these contractors.

On Wednesday, Governor Bobby Jindal announced that the parish will receive three federal grants totaling $21 million for hurricane recovery efforts and hazard mitigation. The first grant is a commitment of $20.5 million in community development block grants to allow the parish to pay for demolitions that Jindal said the Federal Emergency Management Agency would not cover.

“When FEMA refused to reimburse St. Bernard Parish for these demolitions, we were determined they not be stuck paying this bill,” Jindal said. “We fought to cut through the red tape to get funding. We’re happy to announce funding that will go towards the demolition of more than 750 blighted structures that served as old wounds and reminders of the destruction of Hurricane Katrina and would have burdened the parish’s effort to attract new businesses to the parish.”

Read the full story here.

Asbestos abatement work at North Dakota apartment block signals likely demolition.

Although the next chapter in the history of the Emerson Apartments has yet to be officially written, it does appear that for most practical purposes, the writing is already on the wall.

The Ward County Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday to hire asbestos expert Tim Blessum of Weathermen Inc. to spearhead the asbestos abatement process necessary before the building can be razed. Also, the board voted to authorize the county highway department to take bids on the building’s demolition.

Click here for further details.

Demolition is underway at UK’s only floating hotel.

Demolition work started this week on Northwich’s iconic Floatel, the UK’s only floating hotel which stood on the banks of the River Weaver in Northwich, Cheshire.

Fences have been put up and workmen have moved in to clear the structure, which became an eyesore after closing in January when owners Real Hotel Group went into administration.

Vandals have badly damaged the building, while emergency services and environmental health officers agreed it should be removed as soon as possible.

British Waterways is funding the demolition, which will be completed in time for Christmas.

Mike Coates, of British Waterways, said: “The hotel was put into place in prefabricated segments and will be demolished in the same way.

Click here for further details.

School demolition uncovers important historic documents and artifacts.

Workers demolishing an old school building in Leicester have discovered priceless documents about its history under its original foundation stone.

Demolition of the old Taylor Road Primary School building, started three weeks ago and earlier this week workers discovered a sealed glass bottle containing newspapers, including a 1930 copy of the Leicester Mercury, council minutes and coins. The stone was laid by Alderman Richard Hallam on December 1, 1930.

Head teacher Chris Hassall said the council documents filled in a lot of the history of the building.

He said: “Our old school opened in 1932 and the minutes of the education committee show that it was originally a shoe factory owned by Messrs. Toone and Wells. The council purchased it for £10,000.”

Who gets to press the button at the Texas Stadium?

Dallas Cowboys fans – and haters – who want the honor of imploding Irving’s iconic Texas Stadium could face a lot of competition. A well-known food company has expressed interest in sponsoring next year’s implosion. The company also wants to conduct a nationwide contest to decide who gets to push the plunger that destroys the former home of America’s Team.

City leaders revealed the company’s interest Friday but declined to name the entity. But Irving officials said the company would bring a lot of attention to the event – and Irving – through a national advertising campaign centered on its proposed contest.

Read the full details here.

There are some buildings that just should NOT face demolition.

Amidst the worst recession in recent memory, I guess, any demolition workload should be greeted like the prodigal son returned from his travels to distant lands. And yet there just seems something plain wrong about the demolition of a village pub. Even setting aside the demolition industry’s long love affair with alcohol in all its glorious forms, the demolition of a pub is akin to ripping the heart out of a community.

Personally, I blame the town planners, brow-beaten do-gooders to a man: the type that will go to a pub and order tea; and who probably see the demolition of such an establishment as a way of curing the UK nation of its binge-drinking excesses.

So, for all the town planners out there, Demolition News brings you this unique and easy-to-use Good Demolition/Bad Demolition guide:

Bad Demolition
Demolition of pubs, clubs, breweries, vineyards and distilleries
Demolition of live music venues
Demolition of football (soccer) stadia (unless they belong to Arsenal, Millwall or Spurs, in which case sudden, overnight demolition without prior warning is actively encouraged)
Demolition of restaurants unless they sell Greek food, in which case, please refer to Good Demolition (below)
Demolition of anything that will make way for a new tax office, call centre or Government “think-tank” – refer to Good Demolition (below)

Good Demolition
Demolition of 70s tower blocks held together only by graffiti
Demolition of any building that has the word “Tax” in its title
Demolition of double-glazing company headquarters
Demolition of call centres
Demolition of buildings owned by companies that claim to “do a bit of demolition”

If readers would like to extend this guide with their own suggestions for what constitutes Good Demolition or Bad Demolition, please use the comments area below.

New video combines good quality demolition with an excellent dance soundtrack.

What can we tell you about this video? Well, it features Dutch contractor Van Vliet Demolition; It was shot in Cyprus almost exactly three years ago; and it features the kind of soundtrack that will rattle the fillings in your teeth. Enjoy: