The shuttered roller coaster Kingda Ka, which held the title of world’s tallest from its opening in 2005 until its closure last November, was imploded at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey Friday.

Demolition work had already begun and the coaster’s final implosion and collapse was originally scheduled for earlier this month. The implosion was delayed due to weather, but Kingda Ka finally came down.

The controlled implosion happened just before 7 a.m., according to the Asbury Park Press. The Jackson Police Department posted personnel along a road near the park to help corral onlookers hoping to watch the coaster come down.

The ride with a 456-foot drop, which also held the U.S. speed record at 128 mph, was shut down as Six Flags Great Adventure prepares to add new rides, including a new record-breaking roller coaster set to open in 2026, the park said in a release in November.

Upkeep and repair expenses are thought to be the factors that led the park to shut down the ride for good.

“They wanted to push the envelope. They wanted a record-breaker at Great Adventure. But there are a lot of technical problems, a lot of repairs and, of course, they have to make it safe,” American Coaster Enthusiasts historian Dave Hahner told the Asbury Park Press.

• Brad Matthews can be reached at bmatthews@washingtontimes.com.