Pontiac Silverdome demolition to begin with implosion on Dec. 3
(WJBK) - Officials announced Friday the Pontiac Silverdome's demolition will begin early December.
After reaching a demolition deal back in March, the process to tear down the former home of the Detroit Lions will kick off Sunday, Dec. 3. Crews will partially implode the mechanical equipment platform at the top of the 400,000 square foot building.
To break it down for you (pun intended): First the blast will break the metal beams supporting the upper ring of the dome, which is a 20-foot steel band that held up the equipment used to inflate the roof.
Then, each vertical beam surrounding the Silverdome will be broken when a small charge detonates, causing the steel ring to fall to the ground.
Crews will use hydraulic excavators to take care of the rest of the structure in sections.
A total of 1,800 tons of rebar and 1,700 tons of structural steel will be recycled at the city's Ferrous Processing plant. This will give seven workers jobs for at least 6 months.
The process is expected to take about a year to complete.
Should crews face poor weather conditions Dec. 3, the kick off will be moved to Dec. 10.
The Silverdome property sits on 127 acres and was last used as home of the Detroit Lions in 2001. It once hosted the Super Bowl, the Pistons, WrestleMania III, the World Cup and Pope John Paul II's visit.