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.

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

The thing is, more than just the span over the river fell. According to Olbermann, the bridge is 1,950 feet long total. The only thing I can think of is this bridge was extremely, extremely unsound, but it had been inspected and found OK.

 

[MN Matt]

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?

There was construction going on (and unfortunately they were on the bridge when it went down), but I haven't gotten word what it was that they were working on. I think it was re cementing the closed down lanes.

 

[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

The thing is, more than just the span over the river fell. According to Olbermann, the bridge is 1,950 feet long total. The only thing I can think of is this bridge was extremely, extremely unsound, but it had been inspected and found OK.

But the two pier supports went down as well which left the land sections nearest to the water without support on one end and took those down with it.

 

[spup1122]

We have several at our station who grew up in Minneapolis. I'm not sure, but I'm guessing our nightside reporter (who is from Minn.) will be reporting on this tonight. It's been announced that the Twins game is going to continue because if they cancel the game, the traffic will be even worse. They said that even if the Twins wanted to suspend the game, they can't because they've been asked to keep all those people inside the stadium.

 

[93Devil]

Why not stop keeping score at the game and just play ball for fun?

I do not see how earning a win or a loss on the day that this happens is proper.

 

[Bubbler]

Jesus Christ almighty. Awful beyond words. My thoughts to those up in the Cities. I've driven on that bridge before too and like JB, those images haunt me.

And I hate to be the proclaimer of doom and gloom, but even if a car landed intact on a bridge that collapsed 64 feet, it's not as if the passengers are going to walk away from it. You're still dropping 64 feet.

Terrible ... just terrible.

On another note, can the fear-mongers give it a rest until there's more information? No one knows how this happened yet.

 

[kingcreole]

Yes, they have encouraged fans at the Dome not to leave. Plus, the game tomorrow with the Twins and Royals has been postponed.

This is a tragedy we're not going to know the full effects of for a few days. Horrible, horrible thing.

 

[Angola!]

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?

There was construction going on (and unfortunately they were on the bridge when it went down), but I haven't gotten word what it was that they were working on. I think it was re cementing the closed down lanes.

KSTP said the roadway was being resurfaced.

 

[markvid]

They are worried about lettng people out. You're still going to have many leaving all at once..
Kinda seems like you're gonna have a jam-up no matter what you do.

 

[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?

There was construction going on (and unfortunately they were on the bridge when it went down), but I haven't gotten word what it was that they were working on. I think it was re cementing the closed down lanes.

KSTP said the roadway was being resurfaced.

Ugh. I'm praying it was not too much weight on the bridge at one time. I'm wondering if they parked a couple full trucks in a certain spot and that caused the buckle.

 

[Angola!]

I saw an interview with Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor and apparently his granddaughter was involved. They were having a press conference or something and cancelled it.

 

[Songbird]

Bubbler, with all due respect, a person saying he has suspicions about this massive accident isn't fear-mongering.

 

[markvid]

And I hope she's not going to get more attention just because she's his granddaughter.

 

[Angola!]

And I hope she's not going to get more attention just because she's his granddaughter.

Well, it is a sports angle.

 

[SockPuppet]

Anyone else ever been stopped on an overpass and felt your car sorta bouncing as traffic goes by?

And anyone remember the balcony collapse at the Hyatt in KC back in 1980, I think. Collapse was caused by dancing _ rhythmic pounding of hundreds of feet led to the collapse. That's why when soldiers cross a bridge, they walk and don't march.

Perhaps this is just the awful confluence of age, weight, traffic causing a structural failure.

 

[markvid]

And I hope she's not going to get more attention just because she's his granddaughter.

Well, it is a sports angle.

Don't need one.
Too many common folks will be affected, too.
I see what you're saying Angola, but it just annoys me...
Like all the interviews after 9/11 of athletes outside NYC.

 

[Bubbler]

Bubbler, with all due respect, a person saying he has suspicions about this massive accident isn't fear-mongering.

With all due respect back at you, Xan, pulling that card first when no one has any idea yet how this happened, and when there are other possible causes, is the very definition of the term fear-mongering.

And that's where I'm leaving it, and apologies for bringing it up at all, because this isn't the time for this debate.

 

[ondeadline]

MSNBC was just talking to a woman who was on that freeway with a car between her and that school bus. Because of the traffic, she turned off the freeway just before the bridge. She said it was horrific and that she'd never been that close to death.

 

[markvid]

Gretchen Carlson on Fox informs us she just left Minneapolis LAST NIGHT.

Yeah, AND?

 

[Fly]

Just flew out of MSP at noon today. Damn.

Didn't have occasion to drive I-35W this trip, but have traveled it several times before. Nothing but good thoughts go out to everyone involved. This sucks.