Maine bridge proves tougher than expected demo

New Sharon , Maine (AP) - Maine century-old bridge is considered in danger of collapse was harder than expected when the state tried to demolish it . Bridge over the Sandy River in New Sharon was built in 1916 but has not been used since 1990. Maine Department of Transportation officials said the new Sharon in November that it was under threat, and that the state will pay to remove it . Initial explosion explosives did not bring down the structure as planned on Thursday afternoon because there were steel girders to the abutments that officials did not know about , according to Morning Sentinel (http://bit.ly/NCpv8u). " It's an old bridge and there just was not much information available on its construction ," said project leader Andy McPherson of CPM builders. The bridge finally came about three hours after the explosion , and excavator finished . The bridge will be cut into pieces before removal . "It just fell perfectly ," said McPherson . "It went straight down , so that we can actually use the very bridge to get into the water ."