Avon Lake Power Plant demolition begins with scheduled implosion

AVON LAKE, Ohio (WJW) – Crews are officially in the process of demolishing part of the Avon Lake Power Plant . The process started early Wednesday morning with a BOOM!

According to officials, two boilers in one of the buildings at the old plant on Lake Road imploded with controlled explosives precisely at 5:39 a.m.

In a late-morning press release, city officials called the implosion “successful and safe.”

You can watch two views of the implosion in the video below .

“We are happy to see this first implosion was successful. This operation not only clears the way for future implosions, but also demonstrates our commitment to ensuring that major projects are executed safely and efficiently,” said Mark Spaetzel, Mayor of Avon Lake, in the release.

Workers set up a 1,200-foot perimeter around the facility early Wednesday morning.

According to Spaetzel, environmental experts were on-site monitoring air quality before, during and after the demolition.

Officials previously said asbestos was completely removed from the building, but residents were told to expect to see dust for at least 15 minutes after the blast.

Here are pictures immediately following the implosion:

The Ohio Department of Transportation closed U.S. Route 6 (Lake Road) between Miller and Moore roads during the process. Additionally, the U.S. Coast Guard was scheduled to set up a 750-yard safety zone around the site on Lake Erie. Mariners were urged to stay out of the designated area.

During a meeting Monday night, Spaetzel said the demolition would be anti-climactic and residents were encouraged not to come watch it.

The project, which is making room for new lakefront developments, will continue later this year. Officials said it should be complete by November.

The power plant, built in 1926 by Cleveland Electric Illuminating, was the largest of its kind at the time, according to Cleveland Historical records.

CLICK HERE to read more about the future of the Avon Lake power plant.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.