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Excavators with concrete crushers attachments are badass. They just chomp concrete like most of us chomp on walnuts. The claw closes around the concrete, then chomp, and then there is rebar and small bits of concrete.
There is an old railroad bridge being destroyed over Four Mile Run between Arlington and Alexandria, Virginia. Here is video I shot of an excavator destroying what is left of a pier from the bridge.
There is a bridge that is being demolished near my office that is now my destination and entertainment on my daily lunchtime walks. I previously posted video of the demolition of a concrete column. The other day during my visit, a crane with a hanging vibratory hammer was driving steel sheet pilings into the riverbed to form a cofferdam. There was already a cofferdam around one of the bridge piers, which has now been demolished. I am assuming this new cofferdam will surround the next pier, so it can be removed. The before and after photos of the pilings being driven are below as well as video of it happening.
Driving pilings, before
Driving pilings, after
Excavator with concrete crusher twirling rebar
There is a bridge over Four Mile Run that connects Alexandria and Arlington, Virginia that is being destroyed. I love walking over near the site and watching the destruction take place. Today I took some video of (what I am fairly sure is) an excavator with a concrete crusher pound and crush the concrete of a former column. It then separated the rebar and twirled it like ribbon to consolidate it. So very cool to watch.