A 17-story hotel was imploded on Sunday after months of delay.
The old Pallas Hotel on Canal Street was blown up at 8 a.m. with 400 tons of explosives, creating a huge plume of smoke. State officials say the demolition went smoothly but inspections continue.
The city closed several streets and Interstate 10 before and after the demolition.
The demolition took place to make way for the new University Medical Center, a hospital being built to replace the old Charity Hospital, which was closed after Hurricane Katrina.
The demolition was originally scheduled for last Nov. 20 and then rescheduled as officials dealt with permitting issues. A Dec. 18 date was scheduled, but officials postponed the demolition twice more after state environmental regulators found more hazardous materials inside the structure.