Bridge collapse in Washington

KOMO reports I-5 Bridge over Skagit River has collapsed. Cars in water.

 

That's a BIG river

 

When the I-35 bridge collapsed in Minneapolis in 2007, didn't subsequent studies reveal that 70 percent of the bridges in America need significant repairs or added support?

 

Don't remember the number but I know the study did not paint a pretty picture.

Sadly, however, my first thought wasn't structural issues. Particularly in light of the train derailment in the northeast.

Just a bad feeling.

 

Every time I go over a big bridge, I think of that report.

 

Every time I go over the I-35 bridge -- or any other in the Cities -- I think of that report/day.

 

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Report-I-5-bridge-collapses-over-Skagit-River-cars-in-water-208758631.html#

 

Jesus. Hope the deaths are minimal.

 

Holy crap.

 

I guess the 'good' news, if you want to call it that, is that it's just one segment. The Minneapolis collapse was the entire thing. Plus this happened a bit later in the evening - maybe there weren't many vehicles that got caught in it.

 

Crap, that gives me the willies. I've driven over that bridge before, albeit a few years back. Still, eerie.

 

All the national cable news channels are airing re-runs of earlier programs. If news breaks at 2 pm somewhere, they're great with live coverage. If it breaks after 9 pm ET, they're pretty worthless.