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Controlled Blasts to Bring Down Cranes at Collapse Site

Associated Press

   NEW ORLEANS - Two giant, badly damaged construction cranes towering
   over a partially collapsed hotel project are to be demolished Friday
   with a series of controlled explosions in hopes of dropping them
   straight down without damaging nearby businesses and historic buildings
   around the site at the edge of the French Quarter.

   Fire Chief Tim McConnell said work was beginning Thursday in hopes of
   bringing the multi-ton structures down ahead of approaching tropical
   weather. Forecasters said a tropical storm could form in the Gulf of
   Mexico and affect the area by Friday night. At a news conference,
   authorities said the storm was expected to move east of the city, but
   could still kick up stiffer winds and rain that might contribute to the
   cranes tumbling in dangerous directions.

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