BREAKING NEWS: Bridge Collapse

was this terrorism?

It is reported that the bridge over I35 is 40 years old. One can see that the bridge structure consists of steel, trellis type, pylons. It would be interesting to understand the history of lane additions that have been built over the decades. The next logical question concerns the pylons and the engineering certification for the additional load. How many lanes were there when it opened 40 years ago?

No katie -- it wasn't terrorism -- they don't know what caused it.

For Don Shelby, and Sen. Amy Klobachar to inject politics into this horrific happening while they are still pulling bodies from the wreakage is disgusting. I think they should resign friday. I cannot believe their polictical crusade would spill into this crisis. SHAME!!!!!

katie wrote:

was this terrorism?

Poor construction and no maintenance is the answer Katie.

US Sucks wrote:

<quoted text>
Poor construction and no maintenance is the answer Katie.

No maintenance? What do you think the construction was. I am the first to agree that MN needs to spend more on fixing the roads but you cant say this was because of no maintance.
I wonder how many people even knew the facts about the "Vote Yes" transportation issue last fall, how many were really informed and how many just went by the commercials and info they heard from DFL Don.

Feeling Blessed wrote:

<quoted text>
No maintenance? What do you think the construction was. I am the first to agree that MN needs to spend more on fixing the roads but you cant say this was because of no maintance.
I wonder how many people even knew the facts about the "Vote Yes" transportation issue last fall, how many were really informed and how many just went by the commercials and info they heard from DFL Don.

You are right. The DFL would rather spend road money on the chu chu train that no one will use, then on bridge work.

Feeling Blessed wrote:

<quoted text>
No maintenance? What do you think the construction was. I am the first to agree that MN needs to spend more on fixing the roads but you cant say this was because of no maintance.
I wonder how many people even knew the facts about the "Vote Yes" transportation issue last fall, how many were really informed and how many just went by the commercials and info they heard from DFL Don.

Maintenance and Construction are two completely different and separate animals. Bridge Inspections should be performed twice anually at a minimum for the amount of traffic this bridge receives. As signs of wear and tear are found they should be repaired with methods approved by an Engineer.
The construction process of adding additional lanes OR replacing existing lanes should be designed BOTH on the structural capacity of the superstructure and should also consider any and all repairs that have been made.