JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Traffic on Interstate 95 at the Fuller Warren Bridge was only interrupted for a few minutes Wednesday afternoon as a demolition crew imploded four pilings from the old span.

The pilings that were blasted stuck up about 8 feet above the water, but extended 20 feet into the water.

The detonation was scheduled for 1:31 p.m., but actually occurred 15 minutes later.

Department of Transportation officials said interstate traffic would be blocked for about 20 minutes, but "rolling roadblocks" were used and the bridge was only blocked for a few minutes.

The work comes after years of debate on whether to demolish the remnants of the old bridge, and how to do it.

Some have called the remnants of the old Fuller Warren an historic landmark and campaigned to save it as a fishing pier. Others say it is an eyesore and hazard to marine navigation.

During Super Bowl festivities on the river in February 2005, two Jacksonville police officers were hurt when their police boat struck one of the old bridge pilings.

A previous demolition effort was stopped in 2002 in a controversy over dumping debris in the river. The Florida Department of Transportation has agreed to haul off any large pieces of concrete.

A potential snag to Wednesday's implosion was manatees and other wildlife too close to the blast area. Horns went off before the blast in an attempt to scare creatures away, but if any were spotted within 900 feet, the detonation would have been delayed by 30 minutes.

The DOT said several additional blasting days are scheduled next month. Blasting should be complete by the end of January.