Maryland commuter who once crushed his hip in a crash on the Wilson Bridge has won the right to bring the old bridge down.

Dan Ruefly of Accokeek has been selected as the winner of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Project's "Toughest Bridge Commute" contest.

The essay about Ruefly was picked out of 312 entries, and his prize is to trigger the detonation charges that knock down nearly a half-mile stretch of elevated steel girders that supported the old bridge.

Ruefly, who was nominated by his daughter, has been a five-day-a-week commuter for more than 28 years and faces a 2-hour drive in the morning and another 90 minute drive at the end of the day.

His toughest commute came in September 1999 when he switched lanes and slammed into a stopped tractor-trailer straddling the right lane and the old bridge's four-foot-wide shoulder.

The detonation is scheduled for 11:59 p.m. on Monday. The four runner-ups also will be invited to attend the detonation.

Congratulations Dan! Can hardly wait to read his entry.
I can think of a couple of bridges I'd like to blow up! :yay:
In all my yrs. of traveling across that bridge, never have I had a 2-hour drive in the morning and another 90 minute drive at the end of the day!!!!!! :bs:

I'd say lucky guy, but it doesn't sound right. I'd like to push that plunger!

Maryland commuter who once crushed his hip in a crash on the Wilson Bridge has won the right to bring the old bridge down.

Dan Ruefly of Accokeek has been selected as the winner of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Project's "Toughest Bridge Commute" contest.

The essay about Ruefly was picked out of 312 entries, and his prize is to trigger the detonation charges that knock down nearly a half-mile stretch of elevated steel girders that supported the old bridge.

Ruefly, who was nominated by his daughter, has been a five-day-a-week commuter for more than 28 years and faces a 2-hour drive in the morning and another 90 minute drive at the end of the day.

His toughest commute came in September 1999 when he switched lanes and slammed into a stopped tractor-trailer straddling the right lane and the old bridge's four-foot-wide shoulder.

The detonation is scheduled for 11:59 p.m. on Monday. The four runner-ups also will be invited to attend the detonation.

Congratulations Dan! Can hardly wait to read his entry.
I can think of a couple of bridges I'd like to blow up! :yay:
In all my yrs. of traveling across that bridge, never have I had a 2-hour drive in the morning and another 90 minute drive at the end of the day!!!!!! :bs:


When I lived in Indian Head and worked in Alexandria it took me a good 1 1/2 hours to get to work every day one way.

Those of us who live in Old Town not far from the bridge are just SO HAPPY that they decided to blow this thing during the week.

Of course, we'll be out there watching in our pajamas!

His toughest commute came in September 1999 when he switched lanes and slammed into a stopped tractor-trailer straddling the right lane and the old bridge's four-foot-wide shoulder.

Let me get this straight. Because he can't drive, he gets to blow up a bridge? Personally, I think the person in the car directly behind him when he hit the tractor trailer should get to blow it up.

Let me get this straight. Because he can't drive, he gets to blow up a bridge? Personally, I think the person in the car directly behind him when he hit the tractor trailer should get to blow it up.Maybe you'll get to blow up a bridge some day too...:lmao:

Maybe you'll get to blow up a bridge some day too...:lmao:
:mindofasteeltrap: :jet: :high5:

I'd like to blow up some of the drivers that cause the delays instead... :jameo:

Maybe you'll get to blow up a bridge some day too...:lmao:
Shouldn't I get to blow up an Isuzu dealership instead?

I think they should leave the old one open untill the other new one is built. Right now I avoid it by going on 395 and 295. Next week I'll be starting to work out in Fairfax so I'll have to cross it

A portion of the Old Woodrow Wilson Bridge is suppose to come tumbling to the ground with a flash of light ??? HUH?
The charges are very controlled and what they do is generate heat to cut the steel, beams are going to come down and they're going to hit either concrete or asphalt. There will be some dust created when that happens.
The steel will be cut up into 40-foot sections and hauled away. Parts still standing will be dismantled piece-by-piece next year.
WHAT A RIP-OFF! :bigwhoop:
They are going to use heat to melt beams which is lame! I tell you what would of been awesome is some DYNAMITE AND LOUD BOOMS! Perhaps an Air Strike from Andrews, then it would be worth watching! :dude:

Imagine the loudest BOOM of thunder you've ever heard, and that's what woke me from my dreams at 12:30 last night.

Saw the video this morning on washingtonpost.com...looked pretty awesome!

Would have been more fun to take it out with an Air Strike and maybe 1-2 Tomahawks, but thats just me... :jameo: