Gambling barge goes ‘kaboom’ in Mississippi

Section of Grand Casino has been blocking Highway 90 near Gulfport

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Sept. 21: Watch the implosion of the barge from the Grand Casino in Gulfport that was left sitting on U.S. Highway 90 after Hurricane Katrina.

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updated 12:52 p.m. ET Sept. 22, 2005

GULFPORT, Miss. - The Grand Casino went out with a bang on Wednesday.

A demolition crew blew up a section of the barge that has been blocking U.S. Highway 90 near Gulfport ever since Hurricane Katrina heaved it ashore.

Three explosions in rapid succession brought down the five-story structure in a demolition overseen by the state Transportation Department.

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The agency says the blast will allow work to begin on the highway in hopes that it can be reopened in 90 days. Currently, traffic is being rerouted onto a section of Interstate 10.