‘Tugs at your heart’: Implosion set for this week at Avon Lake power plant

AVON LAKE , Ohio (WJW) — Controlled explosives will be used to implode boiler building 9 and 10 at the Avon Lake power plant this week, according to the city.

A Sunday press release states the exact day isn’t being announced “for community safety and to prevent crowds from gathering.”

The Avon Lake Environmental Redevelopment Group is responsible for the demolition of the plant. It was previously announced a precipitator building would also be imploded, but the release states that will be postponed due to concerns that the blast could damage a nearby smokestack.

“This week’s plan is to implode just the boiler building,” Mayor Mark Spaetzel said in the release. “As announced earlier, the city will notify the community 30 minutes prior to the implosion through the Alert Avon Lake emergency notification system.”

Regardless of when this implosion happens, what was will soon become what’s next.

“It tugs at your heart a little bit,” shared former Power Plant employee, Dean Arroyo.

Built in 1926, the Avon Lake Power Plant ends a great run by the lakefront this week. Hopefully, whatever takes over next has a run just like its predecessor.

“It was a big, big part of the community,” shared Arroyo.

Demolition experts have set a 1,200-foot exclusion zone with an expanded area cordoned off for safety during the implosion. Other safeguards will include:

• Providing information on what to expect through various communication channels.
• Sending alerts via the Alert Avon Lake notification system 30 minutes before the blast.
• Monitoring air quality before, during, and after the event.
• Assisting with the closure of Lake Road and the surrounding area during the implosion.

Residents are encouraged to visit the city’s website for more details and to sign up for Alert Avon Lake.

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