Caltrans wants to speed up their dismantling of the old eastern span of the Bay Bridge, proposing to use explosive charges on one of the underwater foundations to implode it.

In a kind-of-cool video pitching the idea to the public, Caltrans says the plan is to use multiple small explosives on the pier E3 caisson, the largest and deepest of the eastern span. The controlled detonations would create multiple smaller shocks that would destroy the structure in six seconds.

The plan would minimize time and resources spent. "This might be one of those rare cases in civil engineering where everything is a win-win... Literally everybody wins with this alternative," Caltrans bridge engineer Brian Maroney says in the video.

"Obviously concerns arise regarding impacts to wildlife. How are the toxic chemicals and concrete within the structure, how are they going to be managed?" Ian Wren of Bay Keepers told ABC 7.

Caltrans says they would be working with "several resource agencies" to minimize the environmental impact of the demolition. It would be scheduled when tides would keep debris from being swept away, and when animal migrations are at a low, sometime in November of this year.

If the plan is successful, Caltrans looks to use the same method on the rest of the piers.