A piece of bittersweet history was made, as a large portion of the iconic Tappan Zee Bridge crumbled into the Hudson River 64 years after it first opened.

Just before 11:00 AM on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2019, a controlled explosion sent the bridge, which was the longest in the state of New York before it was replaced by the Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, collapsing down about 140 feet into the water below. Crowds of people gathered to watch the momentous occasion unfold. With help from our loyal listeners, Chris Breithoff and John Hecker, we have the incredible footage of the demolition as it could be seen from the top of the Tarrytown Pump Station. Check it out:

As previously reported, the explosives were originally not going to be used at all and instead, the old bridge was to be taken down piece-by-piece out of concern that the explosives might impact fish and wildlife in the Hudson River. Plans changed, however, when workers heard loud popping sounds while taking apart the east span, causing officials to worry that the bridge could collapse on its own.

“Through extensive engineering analysis, it has been determined that this is the safest method to proceed with lowering the span given its current state,” Tappan Zee Constructors, the company responsible for taking down the bridge, said in a statement, according to ABC News.

The remaining parts of the old Tappan Zee will be reportedly taken down piece-by-piece.

More From The Wolf