The Lake Champlain Bridge has been demolished. The 80-year-old bridge connecting New York and Vermont was brought down by explosives Monday morning. Our Steve Ference was there for the implosion and has the details.

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After weather delayed destruction of the Lake Champlain Bridge, it took 500 strategically-placed charges to drop the 2,184-foot long bridge.

"There was 800 pounds of explosives," said Gee.

Blink, and you missed it.

The implosion was deafening at 130 decibels, turning the link between Crown Point, N.Y. and Addison, Vt. used by 3,500 people a day, into piles of icy twisted metal.

"We were repairing the bridge, actually," said Gee. "The part that imploded we were repairing it when we discovered that the piers that were supporting the bridge were deteriorating faster than we were aware of."

The problem? Cement pillars that had been eroding one inch every five years for the last 20 years. But between 2005 and 2008, it deteriorated an additional 14 inches, forcing officials to close and now rebuild what had been here for 80 years.

"This is the same type of bridge that collapsed in Minnesota, and we were monitoring this type of bridge," said Gee. "And when we felt that it was unsafe for traffic, we closed it."

Now the work continues as crews will spend the winter removing the debris from the lake. The new bridge is expected to be finished by the summer of 2011.

The Department of Transportation is asking for everyone's patience.

"We've been moving as quickly as we can since we closed the bridge to restore transportation in this area," said Gee.

While the DOT looks to increase ferry service, travelers look at a prolonged 80-mile detour and plans for the $80 million to $100 million replacement bridge get finalized.

The DOT will select the design for the new bridge in January. That bridge is expected to last around 75 years.