I-35W bridge collapses into Mississippi River in Minneapolis

Source: wcco-tv, startribune

Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune

I-35W bridge collapses

By Warren Wolfe, Star Tribune

Last update: August 01, 2007 – 6:30 PM
The Interstate Hwy. 35W bridge over the Mississippi River collapsed this afternoon, dumping at least eight cars and a truck into the water and land below.

It was not clear how many people might be hurt or killed.



Read more: http://www.startribune.com/462/story/1338294.html

I hope the people who fell to the river will be all right...

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story said our infrastructures were falling apart. It looks like an earthquake. Right over Mississippi river at rush hour.

And he's so right.

I hope this wasn't due because nobody kept up proper checks on the bridge. But given all this heat and humidity during rush hour with all that weight, no amount of preventative maintenance could necessarily prevent this disaster either.

if someone had inspected it routinely maybe lives could have been saved.

the "construction" that is being done on it is resurfacing.

Please don't start rumors and blames.

same thing, and that the whole country's infrastructure is bad. This is a wake up call. Don't accuse me of starting rumors.

So does that mean our highway and bridge systems aren't able to cope with climate change either?

While public interest groups are fighting - and often winning - to keep multinational corporations from taking over taxpayer-funded assets, Chimpy and Grover and their friends have been slashing the federal budget for upkeep.

http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/3282/a_win_in_the_w...

The only thing privatization has ever done for the USA is make the rich and connected richer. But it does nothing to make America more safe. The profits go into the pockets of the elite class while Americans pay with their lives due to corruption and cut-throat maintainance of our highways and bridges.

You stop it when politicians such as Sen Ted Stevens and Rep William Jefferson, if found guilty, are executed for bribery.

You stop it when politicians such as Sen Ted Stevens and Rep William Jefferson, if found guilty, are executed for bribery.

I'm calling BIG bullshit on this. Executing people doesn't stop a damn thing, and it never has. If it did, we wouldn't have one murder in Texas to worry about. For that matter, the Chinese do exactly that (execute public officials for bribery), and it hasn't done a damn thing to solve things.

It's 'making examples' of them that is the point.

Better than execution, take all assets from them and barr them from ever holding public office again. Destitute, their family humiliated and on welfare and food stamps while they serve time... a fate worse than death.

And yes, families always suffer when these assholes get away with this stuff. Fair is fair.

I agree 100% that making them an example of evil, and then stripping them of their material wealth and reputation is something that politicians would understand.

But if execution is too difficult for some to stomach, then how about we simply allow them to commit hari-kari as any respectable public servant in Japan would do?

Forgive me for that one.

That is something I can get behind. I just don't have enough faith in this government to give them the power to kill people.

I'm only marginally in favor of the death penalty. We simply don't have the flawless system necessary to implement it right now.

And, it's not an act of barbarism. The death penalty is WRONG, even when applied to corrupt Repugnicans.

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My dad tells me that if you were to replace the word "republican" with a hateful G word that refers to Asians, it was a pretty common thing to hear during the Vietnam years.

It was hateful then, and it's hateful now. You should be ashamed of yourself.

but I'm not ashamed. Most Republicans would wish death on me...and WOULD kill me, too, if they thought they could get away with it.

I'm already counting the days until I get disappeared off to some concentration camp somewhere for being transgendered.

Trust me, once the dictatorship is openly declared, I'll be the first to go...and who the fuck will have my back?? No one...trhat's who.

And it'll be a Republican motherfucker that drags me off to the concentration camp to stick me in a crematorium. I'm sorry, I don't put it past those motherfuckers. Not for a second.

Anyone who wishes death on me...I wish death on them.

Where in the constitution does it "require" the death penalty for *any* crime?

Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on confession in open Court.

The Congress shall have the Power to declare the Punishment of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, or forfeiture except during the Life of the Person attainted.



Sorry, I don't see anything about the death penalty in there. Only that Congress has the power to determine what punishment is suitable for Treason.

But, better be careful - I don't think these neocons use the term "giving aid and comfort to the enemy" loosely, I think they really mean to eventually declare all who do not support Il Duce Dickie and Dimson as persons "giving aid and comfort to the enemy" and, by definition, guilty of Treason.

imagine my shock and horror to find it coming from withing DU...ITSELF!

I had assumed that on a board like DU, even those people who believed in the death penalty would want it reserved exclusively for murder!

If Stevens is found guilty, and is thrown out of the Senate in disgrace, this would also prevent him from committing any further crimes in his official capacity.

I oppose the DP altogether, and I am even more opposed to its extension to crimes other than murder.

Moreover, once there is the chance of the DP for politicians found guilty of corruption - how many people are perfectly trusting that no politician would try to frame an opponent? I could easily see that happening.

I think that there should be tighter laws about corruption (there are quite a lot of things that are really bribery but are technically legal); and that politicians who are convicted should be subject to severe penalties - but not the DP.

Minneapolis is a very civic city.

America can't afford to maintain the infrastructure.. oh well, guess we have to sell the highways to the corporations. Too bad for the working poor who will eventually trapped in working class ghettos because they can't afford the tolls.

Well, the corporations have all our money, by hook or by crook, they can afford to buy what We The People paid to build.

How much disappeared in Iraq? How many bridges would it have maintained?

The few that are politically connected just like in Russia will be enabled to rob and steal the assets of taxpayers, and then rob and steal from them again in perpetuity and it is fueled by a system of bribery that is excused as lobbying.

http://www.counterpunch.org/avnery08032004.html

It's a solid steele bridge. I've been over it hudreds of times. It's unbelievable.

Just curious: Was that bridge built with imported or domestic steel? Also: How much corrosive road salt is used on that bridge in the winter months?

There was a proposition to raise the gas tax 5 cents this spring to fund road repairs, since the gas tax hasn't been raised for almost 20 years. That was vetoed by Gov. Pawlenty. We need billions to repair our roads, but that would conflict with his "no new taxes" pledge.

I hope this finally wakes up the sheep that live in this state and voted for that piece of crap.

scorned over this if it's something to do with cuts. Maybe it's a wakeup call to what else will happen if infra-structure isn't kept up to specs.

Last election cycle I went to so many of transportation forums where it was a known fact that 50% of our bridges need work. One was actually the I35 Solutions Forum. It was obvious there were problems. I sure as hell didn't think it was going to be 35W, though.

I just want someone to blame!!

Mn/DOT started a new cost-cutting program called "Acceptable Risk". Channel 11 reported that a 2006 inspection on that bridge revealed cracks in the steel supporting the bridge. I'm freaked out. I drove that bridge twice a day and likely would have been on it a 6:05 if I hadn't decided to go out for a beer in St. Paul.

I bet that was the best beer you've ever had.

I wonder how Pawlenty is going to wiggle out of explaining his veto? He better not be heralded as "America's Governor" as we know he has higher aspirations than just the Governor of Minnesota.

http://www.startribune.com/462/story/1338294.html

only 1 injury from a schoolbus reported so far

edit to add: now on MSNBC & CNN too.

The whole bridge is gone

My vote still goes to heat and humidity causing the road to buckle and fail.

there would be bridges falling all over the country if heat and humidity could do it

There would be a lot of falling bridges

Perhaps erosion on parts in the river? It looks like it went down in the center.

It can be -40ºF in the winter time and well over a hundred when you factor in the sun beating down on the asphalt and painted steel. The surface temps may get as high as 120º. That's up to a 170º difference. That's a lot of thermal expansion that has to be taken into account.

If it was not designed adequetely, the 40 or so years of such expansion in the steel trusses and rebar might have weakened the entire structure until finally something critical gave.

I hope all those Republican state congressmen and Gov. Pawlenty are really proud of themselves for not increasing the gas tax by a nickel (and not getting matching federal funds). I mean, that money goes straight to MinnDOT for roads and bridges, and, god, we can't have that, now can we? It's okay if the price of gas flucuates by 15 or 20 cents a day and the oil companies profit, but BY GOD we can't have MinnDOT making extra money, can we? They'll just fritter it away on new bridges and highways!

Heat and humidity...in fucken MINNEAPOLIS?? If that were the case, there wouldn't be a fucken bridge standing in Houston, Texas!

but it does get very hot and humid here in the summer, we were in the mid nineties today.

fine....but you have to agree that you guys get nowhere NEAR as hot and humid as a place like Houston, Texas!

and if heat would have brought this bridge down, then there wouldn't be a bridge standing in Houston!!

It may not be as hot as Houston overall, but it can get near that level quite frequently and occasionally even exceed it. If you don't think Minnesota summers are hot then you don't know Minnesota's climate. Again I don't think heat brought the bridge down (although it may have been a contributing factor), but please don't think Minnesota is cold year round.

40 years of alternating extreme heat and extreme cold with constant vibrations from traffic could weaken the metal I would think. Houston doesn't get the cold extremes.

So heat and humidity could have contributed to the collapse.

You ever lived in Houston?

I can attest that between about November and late january, the most amazing cold fronts come down from Canada, and nail houston every year, and you freeze your ass off!! Try looking at a weather map sometime if ya don't believe me.

Yeah, Houston's hot as hell 10 months of the year, but the other two, you freeze your ass off.

While our recent winters have been milder, we do have the potential for hitting 20 below in the winter and 100 in the summer and that bridge was old enough that it has gone through a lot of harsh winters. It's not unusual when the summer has been as hot as this one to have sections of pavement explode or buckle - though I haven't heard of that happening this year.

That's when the spring jackets come out.

n/t

-10, -20 that's freezing your ass off. 40 degrees just means you might need a sweater.

According to the MNDOT Web site, the bridge is included in a section of interstate that was currently having overlay work done to it. The northbound lanes of I-35W between Interstate 94 and Hwy. 36 were restricted to one lane from 8 p.m. Tuesday until 5 a.m. today, according to the site. The southbound lanes were scheduled to be narrowed to one lane starting at 8 p.m. tonight.

"Oh my God, this is astonishing," said Kevin Gutknecht, program team leader with MNDOT, of the collapse. He learned of the collapse after a reporter from CNN called him at 6:30 p.m.

http://www.twincities.com/allheadlines/ci_6518669?nclic...

he is a wheel in the mn. army national guard.
his job is tough tonight....will they cll the guard out for this?

not the bridge

but who knows? maybe using flammable liquids.....repair project was underway....

oh GOD! Twins werre playig tonight --- only 4-5 blocks away

rush hour. lotta my friends use that bridge. my son went over it a few hours ago enrout to show at 1st Ave.
he is safe.
sister, bro in law were about to cross 19th street bridge (close by) when 35W bridge went down
dozens stopped on 19th street bridge to look. some started crying.

this is our 9-11.
dispatchers on scanner practially crying.
they are having trouble communicating, too......maybe rudi g. could help


and, loss of life aside, this will fuck up traffic for months...will the GOP pull its convention?

This is a terrible event and will be a nightmare for months to come.

Sib says that beyond the loss of life, getting into and out of downtown will be really bad. This is the big bridge that goes by university, I've been over many times. I really hate things falling apart and hope not too many people got hurt and am sorry for those hurt, killed, missing, and their families/friends.

Look, I gotta call BS on this. You can't necessarily take a swipe at guiliani over this one. Ok, so communications are fucked up. I saw something a while back on america's Most Wanted about this, and apparently, cell phone technology is causing some of these communications fuckups.

This is very sad.

Prayers for all of the victims.

link to story:http://kstp.com/article/stories/S156329.shtml?cat=1

injured being taken tp HCMC level 1 trauma center and Fairview University (not a level 1 but closer)

God, I hope he's reporting something right for a change.

Been o that bridge countless times, used to cross it daily.

Thinking good thoughts, let us know when you get in touch with your sister.

Please let us know.

They are pulling a body out of the river now on my tv.

Someone won't be making it home this evening.

Damn.

It is very sad that someone else wasn't as lucky.

the cell towers are overloaded, and the reporter says it is near impossible to get a phone 'line' out, so don't panic yet, it will take a while for everyone to get their phone calls out.

I recently moved from Minneapolis and I'm
worried too. I hope your sister's okay. This is horrible.

but sent an e-mail. Maybe you should try to contact her that way.

Hoping for good news!!

See how long it takes for Faux Noose to push any terrorism angle.

Infrastructure problems don't play well for the anti-FDR crowd.

J

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Pawlenty pulled a stunt appointing her to double-duty claiming it would save $. Her previous claims to fame were beating Jesse Ventura in a keg-throwing contest and obstructing transportation bills in the state legislature.

And I hope the rest of MN does as well.

"While we have absolutely no indication that any sort of terrorism is involved, have have to say that it is their job to check and clear such things. Again, no idications, but 9/11!! 9/11!! 9/11!! 9/11!! 9/11!! 9/11!! 9/11!! 9/11!! 9/11!! 9/11!! 9/11!! 9/11!! 9/11!! 9/11!! 9/11!! 9/11!! 9/11!! 9/11!! 9/11!! 9/11!! 9/11!! 9/11!! 9/11!! 9/11!! 9/11!! 9/11!! 9/11!! 9/11!! 9/11!! 9/11!! 9/11!! 9/11!! 9/11!! 9/11!! 9/11!! 9/11!! 9/11!! 9/11!! 9/11!! 9/11!! 9/11!! 9/11!! 9/11!! 9/11!! 9/11!! 9/11!! 9/11!! 9/11!! 9/11!! 9/11!! 9/11!! 9/11!! 9/11!! 9/11!! 9/11!! 9/11!! "

Heck with it, I'm goning to watch the Twins game.