(Radio Iowa) – Work began this morning (Monday) to remove a railroad bridge in Sioux City that collapsed in June during flooding on the big Sioux River. Charges were set off on the span of the bridge that is on the South Dakota side of the river in North Sioux City.

Amy McBeth of the Burlington Northern Sante Fe Railroad is overseeing the operation.

Crews started removing the span shortly after the explosive charges were set off. McBeth says they’ll set off charges on the span on the Iowa side of at a future date. They will then put up a new bridge.

McBeth says it will take crews around one week to remove the debris from the bridge span on the South Dakota side.

Explosive charges break up the collapsed bridge near Sioux City. (KSCJ photo)