TRENTON (WWJ) - Explosions echoed along the Detroit River on Friday morning when two smoke stacks at DTE's Trenton Channel Power Plant imploded and came crashing down.
WWJ's Mike Campbell was live at the scene near West Jefferson Avenue, south of Grosse Ile Parkway, when the "candy canes" were demolished right around 7:30 a.m. on March 15th, saying one moment the smoke stacks were visible on the skyline and then next, they were gone
"The implosion happened just as it was intended to," Campbell reported from the scene. "That was the first implosion and that was the explosion of the smoke stack -- and then there is another explosion that follows it."
That's the stack hitting the ground and then there's a pause and then you hear the exact same thing only with the second stack," he explained. "It winds up as it rolls through the air."
Friday's demolition is the first step in a two-part process to raze the plant so the site can be redeveloped. Michael Banks, Director of Major Projects at DTE Energy, told Campbell that the demo went off without a hitch.
"Yes, went just as we had designed it to do -- stacks came down, falling directly to the north that we were looking for, one right after the other," Banks said.
And just like that, the 600-foot twin stacks were gone.
"The landscape has changed. The horizon has changed," Campbell said.
Next on deck: the boiler house, which is scheduled to be demolished in mid-May. According to DTE Energy, residents living within a two-mile radius of the plant will be given a notice the day before the demolitions.
The power company stated all hazardous material had been removed from the plant.
The Trenton Channel Power Plant saw nearly 100 years of service after beginning operations in 1924. The plants was retired in 2022.
According to DTE, the plant is being demolished to pave the way for future redevelopment. Banks told Campbell that those plans will "be green," but did not elaborate further.
The public was invited to view the demolition, with Grosse Ile Police advising spectators to watch from established viewing areas on West River, located south of Ruthmere and north of Marlborough.
DTE employees and media personnel were given access to the Water Edge Marine for viewing.
Road closures were in place starting at 6:40 a.m., to ensure everyone's safety.
