35W Freeway Bridge Collapse

[toggleswitch]

~Feds Direct States to Inspect Bridges

Remember the large-scale blackout on the eastern seaboard on August 14th a few years back?

The feds said that was being investigated as well, to prevent a re-occurance. To date I don't recall anything being done to the nation's power-grid. What did the Bush immediately do with that calamity before he had any info? Blame Cananda. Jackass.

I wonder if the support columns /footings that were in the river somehow became undermined / compromised/weakened.

 

[gansky1]

You're absolutely right, Toggle. Where are the Democratic candidates with their speeches about infrastructure decay now? (Chirp, chirp)

How many bridges need to fall, how many levees need to fail, power grids fry, jars of poison peanut butter from China - how many people have to die before we realize that safety is more than just hunting for Osama? Oh, wait...

 

[bethann]

Hi everyone!

I'm glad everyone that I know is safe and sound!

I'm sorry I haven't been around lately. That's a story in itself.

I miss all of you very much!

I'll be back when things settle down.

XO

 

[goprog]

I would have to watch PBS again (might when it is rebroadcast
at midnight), but one of the guests made a comment that 1/3 of
the bridges are in a less-than-acceptable state. Other stories
have said 13% are in the same category as the 35W bridge was.
Not sure why the different numbers.

(sudsmaster - not sure what you are saying - the bridge on 10th
is still standing - it is near the 35W bridge.)

One of the news programs also said that 72,xxx bridges are rated
to be in WORSE shape than the 35W bridge was. With OK, PA, and
RI having the most bridges that need work.

I find the political posturing to be disingenuous. Members in
Minnesota may remember this is the governor that delayed the
upgrade of the/one-of-the worst stretches of highway in the
US because he wanted the contractors to finance the upgrade
instead of selling bonds. No one bid on the project.

Robert, where did you hear your numbers - KARE 11 news just
now (10 PM) said there were still 30 people missing?

750 bridges like this one across the country.

When I watch the video, it looks to me as though the south
end of the bridge starts falling first (but only by some
milliseconds?)

 

[Unimatic1140]

Robert, where did you hear your numbers - KARE 11 news just now (10 PM) said there were still 30 people missing?
I heard it on WCCO TV4 at 6pm, CNN is also now reporting that number.

I also heard tonight that there are 750 bridges of this style in the USA and Rich they said 59 of these are in California, but I don't know if they are exactly like this bridge, as you said the code is probably different there because of the earthquake potential. Ohio apparently has the most with over 100 of this style bridge.

 

[~sudsshane]

heads should roll............

Gov. Tim Pawlenty, (R), of MN was quoted as saying "The 35W bridge didn't need replacing until the year 2020 or beyond"? (Clueless)! Maybe my washer friends from MN can fill me in..

News reports said this bridge was deemed structurally unsound more than 2 yrs ago. I just don't get it..people are dead or missing now! Our federal Gov't can find the money to fund an immoral and unjust war, but Bush's 2005-2007 federal budgets, all include cuts to Medicare,Social Security, and federal infastructure. translated....(highways and bridges).

January 20,2009 can't come soon enough!!!

 

[goprog]

Hmm, 4 hour difference in news certainly doesn't say
much for their fact-finding.

At least they turned off the lights and removed the
non-entrance-ramp accesses to 280. Still wouldn't be
enthused about those single-lane congestion points.

 

[goprog]

There's also the list of bridges MN DOT considers to be in
worse shape than 35W was. But they said it was an internal
list and not for publication... They're not getting away
with that and it will be made available.

 

[Unimatic1140]

Here is a shot I took this morning on my way to work, the bridge begins right after that sign.

 

[chaskelljr2]

Unimatic.....

This is Charles...... I haven't posted here in a long time, but I am one of the first/original members of "automaticwasher.org". When I heard about the bridge collasping in Minnesota, you were the person I was thinking of and wondering if you were alright.

I'm glad to see that you are, and hopefully, Neal is too.

You're right about one thing, when the news broke, the news was spreaded all over the country at breakneck speed (no pun intended). But again, it's good to see that you're alright and in good spirits.

Now, with that in mind, I am beginning to wonder about some of the bridges in my city (Washington, D. C.). Hopefully, we're not going to go through the same fate y'all did. But you never know these days.

Take care for now and keep us up to date as to what's happening.

--Charles--

 

[goprog]

Robert's pic

View is looking north.

 

[brisnat81]

What a tragic Event

I was in the middle of meeting when the news came across on the radio at about 10am on Thursday morning here. The first thing I also did was logged on here, to make sure you were ok. I was very releived to see your message, and to hear that all of the Minnesotians seem to be ok.

We had a recent problem on our expressway here, where they were repairing the expansion joints and resurfacing, and a ramp over the top of the freeway twisted and cracked. They closed it all down, and have now managed to remount the base, but it is amazing what can happen when you try to maintain something that mightnt have been touched in 20 years. Our main freeway was only closed for 5 days, and that brought traffic to a stop all over the city.

I can only imagine what this will do to the beautiful city of MSP and I hope that they can rebuild and move on as soon as possible.

Best wishes

Nathan

 

[jetaction]

Up close pics

These pics drive the message home,,,you just don't know!

http://www.conphoto.net/collapse.html

 

[chaskelljr2]

What a great view of the city. And you say that the bridge that has collasped begins on that next right????

--Charles--

 

[dalangdon]

As awful as this was, there's a few things to be thankful for...

That the bridge wasn't at full capacity.

That it wasn't winter, where it would be hideously cold and dark to boot, at that time of day.

That the train underneath wasn't carrying some sort of hideous chemical (or people, for that matter, although Amtrak doesn't travel that route).

...I could go on, but you get the idea. I'm no Pollyanna, but I am struck by the "what ifs"

When you think about it, a tornado could do much more damage, but I think that since it's a failure of "our" technology, we feel it more acutely.

 

[foraloysius]

It has been here on the news too. What a disaster, but it's indeed a miracle that not more people died. And I'm very happy none of the club members is involved. Hopefully the cause of this tragedy can be found out so other bridges can be checked on safety.

 

[oxydolfan1]

Someone mentioned to me earlier that a controversial aspect to this tragedy is that money was spent on a costly ballpark in the area that should have been earmarked toward infrastructure maintenance.

Apparently the opening of the ballpark itself was quietly called off....

Any truth to this, or is it just political jockeying?

 

[goprog]

No. There was a baseball game that evening, but nothing to
do with the new ballpark. The ballpark issue is another matter
and I suppose depending on your point of view they could be
related, just because money is money, but it's not a matter of
money being earmarked for one thing or another. The ballpark
would have made no difference one way or another - well, maybe
a .1% chance of a difference - insignificant. The ballpark is
supposed to be built sometime in the future - I don't know when
because I don't care about it - other than public money that
might go towards it. Actually, I think most people in MN would
rather it not be built, but it was pushed through by the Twin
Cities, especially MPLS politicians, and the Twins.

 

[goprog]

Though Pawlenty is a baseball fan...

 

[laundryshark]

Up to a Trillion and a Half Dollars!

This is about how much it would cost to get all of our bridges up to snuff. This amount would be spent within the next five years. Current legislative offerings don't even come close. Again, look at how much we have already spent in Iraq, along with these tax cuts. Not that these tax cuts are unappreciated, but definitely in need of wiser spending and taxation practices. Oh yes! Let's also not forget all these stupid "pork barrel" packages that have nothing to do with the price of tea in China. Then, too, maybe these would be.--Laundry Shark