The original plan for destruction called for demolition of all spans at the same time. To accomplish this, satchel charges of C-3 explosives were placed in the middle of each undamaged spans to cut the girder and drop them into the river bed. To destroy the cribbing, barrels of diesel oil and gasoline were placed within the cribbing and wired with primer cord. The cribbing was to be ignited when the bridge was blown. The men worked all day and into the night preparing the bridge for destruction.

On 15 December, the X Corps Engineer tasked B Company with the additional task of destroying all railroad rolling stock located in the railroad yard just to the east of the bridge.

This consisted of about 15 engines and 250-300 box and flat cars. For ease of execution both tasks were consolidated. Starting at the far end of the bridge, on span at a time would be destroyed and as many cars and engines would be destroyed as possible pushed into the void before blowing the next span.