Bridge collapse in MSP

[Football_Bat]

I don't see how this can be an accident. A whole bridge doesn't usually collapse from end to end. The I-40 accident in Oklahoma involved a barge ramming a support and only one section fell, and it killed 14 people.

 

[Omar_dont_scare]

The KSTP broadcast had a guy on a few minutes ago citing some cracks or what not in the bridge from a 2006 report.

 

[zeke12]

http://www.startribune.com/10136/gallery/1338445.html

Strib with the best image yet.

 

[markvid]

What are you saying, F_B, sabotage?
The thing was 40 years old.

 

[wickedwritah]

I don't see how this can be an accident. A whole bridge doesn't usually collapse from end to end. The I-40 accident in Oklahoma involved a barge ramming a support and only one section fell, and it killed 14 people.

They're saying that a jackhammer was going off as this happened. If there were cracks in the foundation, I'd imagine any small vibration in the right spot could've sent that thing hurtling.

 

[playthrough]

This reminds me of the Tampa Bay bridge collapse 20-plus years ago, where the ship crashed into the bridge in heavy fog (IIRC) and part of it toppled, with car after car driving off it into the bay.

****.

 

[Songbird]

If he isn't, I am.

 

[Omar_dont_scare]

Yes, yes, by all means, we must promote The Fear.

 

[spup1122]

Three confirmed dead now. I anticipate that toll going up.

 

[wickedwritah]

Yes, yes, by all means, we must promote The Fear.

Maybe James Inhofe can come out again and rip the Arabs.

 

[spup1122]

And what time did this happen? I was listening to the Royals game (against the Twins) and there was no mention of it.

 

[OnTheRiver]

They're saying around 6:10

 

[markvid]

Local reporter on with FNC anchor...
Has to report her family is ok...

Um....WHY?

 

[MN Matt]

I don't see how this can be an accident. A whole bridge doesn't usually collapse from end to end. The I-40 accident in Oklahoma involved a barge ramming a support and only one section fell, and it killed 14 people.

The thing with this bridge is that it was made of a single 546 foot long steel arch that spanned from bank to bank across the river. There was no other support in the river to hold sections up. I've heard that the bridge buckled on the north side, then the center fell straight down 64 feet into the river, then the south side fell.

There was bumper to bumper traffic at about ten miles an hour on a single lane southbound and the north bound lane was moving normally. Hopefully that will keep any casualties to a minimum as was said earlier

 

[Songbird]

"I hate to use the term 'tossed around like toys,' but they were tossed around like toys." [FOX News]

 

[markvid]

"We don't have earthquakes, we have tornadoes"
Time to let this woman go.

 

[93Devil]

I just hope that this was an act of God and not negligence of an inspector looking the other way or too much weight on the bridge at any one time.

If there was only one lane of traffic on the bridge then I am guessing they were working on something. What was the repair on they were working with when the collapse happened?

 

[spup1122]

A witness on CNN just reported that one police officer alone told him that he personally saw seven dead bodies. This is such a tragedy.

 

[93Devil]

Yes. This is bad. It cannot be easily explained (earthquake, tornado, etc...). It is something man made, it broke and people died. It is very difficult to deal with a tragedy like that. America is supposed to have safeguards that ensure these things do not happen.

 

[Omar_dont_scare]

And good people, too. The "Minnesota Nice" thing is not a myth--at least based on my dealings with people from that area.