WI - 35W bridge in Minneapolis collapses!

[Buzz Mills]

It would take $461 billion to fix US bridges and roads ... just reported on CNN

If only we wouldn't have spent that $610 billion on Iraq and Afghnistan. Next year will cost another $170 billion, or so. We should bring our soldiers home.

 

[Buzz Mills]

I have another question... I've never been to MN, so please pardon my ignorance :blushing:

Now that this birdge has collapsed, where will all the cars go to get where they need to? Have alternate routes been set up? Is this going to double traffic on other bridges, which could cause more collapsing?

Gosh, what a mess it must be for everyone there.

We could chip in and buy a ferry and start a business. There are large parking lots on both ends of the bridge now.

 

[PrayersForMaura]

does car insurance cover all of the people's damaged cars?

Also, can all the people who were injured sue and whom would they sue?

 

[cheko1]

I heard this being discussed this morning before I went to work. They were saying that the extreme temperatures can cause damage to the steel (like expanding & contracting) while the concrete remains the same. For example in Minnesota it being sub-zero, heavy snow to now in the 90's for past weeks. The amount of traffic (including semi trucks) could've also been a problem with the bridge orginally built long before 140,000 cars per day would cross it.

I could easily see that theory.... we have had some pretty mild winters lately / this has been a pretty hot summer for our area.

Road construction is pretty massive wherever you go in the Twin Cities it has grown massively in the last few years. A new bridge was just completed on 494 crossing the Mississippi. Towards the Mall of America & airport.

 

[PrayersForMaura]

If only we wouldn't have spent that $610 billion on Iraq and Afghnistan. Next year will cost another $170 billion, or so. We should bring our soldiers home.

there are a LOT of things this country pays for that is wasteful money.
For example, some "charity" type of programs are actually giving money to wealthy people ... in some instances, people are abusing the money meant for good things.

However, those topics are more appropriate for the political forum ... a place where I do not like to visit.

I prefer to keep my discussions civilized :angel:

 

[JBean]

I have been hearing refernce to the impact of climate on these structures over and over. At least it does seem that if the harsh weather is a factor,the CA bridges are safer.
Everytime I have gone to MN, I just hung out at Mall of America so I didn't have to go outside.

 

[panthera]

This article mentions a truck driver -

Gary Babineau was driving a truck in front of the bus when the collapse occurred. After recovering from his momentary shock, Babineau said he climbed out of his truck and rushed to help the kids in the school bus behind him.

http://edition.cnn.com/2007/US/08/02/bridge.collapse.schoolbus/index.html



but I'm not sure if that's the truck that caught fire or a different one.

Oh, he's on CNN now. He's not the semi truck driver from what I can understand he's talking about a pick-up truck he was driving. What a hero he is! :clap: :clap: :clap:

 

[panthera]

I could easily see that theory.... we have had some pretty mild winters lately / this has been a pretty hot summer for our area.

Road construction is pretty massive wherever you go in the Twin Cities it has grown massively in the last few years. A new bridge was just completed on 494 crossing the Mississippi. Towards the Mall of America & airport.

I've never been there but I really can see the weather maybe rusting some parts that might not even have been noticed in the inspections or like the engineers were saying on the news the heat expanding the steel and just causing stress failure. Whatever happened it's truly sad and tragic. Fortunately I don't have to drive across any bridges or elevated freeway everyday to work since right now I think I'd be scared!

 

[PrayersForMaura]

Oh, he's on CNN now. He's not the semi truck driver from what I can understand he's talking about a pick-up truck he was driving. What a hero he is! :clap: :clap: :clap:

just heard his story. What an awesome young man he is!
He helped get the kids off the bridge.

 

[reportertype]

If they (Al Qaeda) keep us in Iraq and Afghanistan, spending 15 billion a month, while letting everything here go to the dogs, it will happen.

You're 100 percent correct, Buzz.

So is SadieMae, when she says getting all of our materials from places like China is costing us jobs and since they seem to make mainly cheap, shoddy goods, it's not helping us in any other ways, either, except for being cheaper.

You get what you pay for.

 

[SieSie]

Maybe Halliburton should have to rebuild our bridges...since they already have our money!

:clap: :clap: Bravo, SS - I think that's the best idea I've ever heard!! :clap: :clap:

 

[panthera]

just heard his story. What an awesome young man he is!
He helped get the kids off the bridge.

It is so refreshing to hear people like him! He could've just thought of getting himself away from harm but chose to do the right thing. :clap:

 

[Buzz Mills]

I've never been there but I really can see the weather maybe rusting some parts that might not even have been noticed in the inspections or like the engineers were saying on the news the heat expanding the steel and just causing stress failure. Whatever happened it's truly sad and tragic. Fortunately I don't have to drive across any bridges or elevated freeway everyday to work since right now I think I'd be scared!

That's why bridges have expansion (and contraction) joints on them, so that members can swell during the heat of simmer, and contract, during the winter. The resurfacing contractor was supposed to be doing something to these expansion joints; at least that was said on the news..

 

[panthera]

You're 100 percent correct, Buzz.

So is SadieMae, when she says getting all of our materials from places like China is costing us jobs and since they seem to make mainly cheap, shoddy goods, it's not helping us in any other ways, either, except for being cheaper.

You get what you pay for.

I totally agree with this too.

 

[panthera]

That's why bridges have expansion (and contraction) joints on them, so that members can swell during the heat of simmer, and contract, during the winter. The resurfacing contractor was supposed to be doing something to these expansion joints; at least that was said on the news..

Thanks Buzz ~ I've heard several different reports about what work was actually being done on the bridge besides resurfacing. I know what you're talking about with the expansion joints and was just wondering what the failure could've been. Could the contractor have been trying to reinforce them maybe and actually weakened them? Sorry but I'm not an engineer!

 

[cheko1]

I've never been there but I really can see the weather maybe rusting some parts that might not even have been noticed in the inspections or like the engineers were saying on the news the heat expanding the steel and just causing stress failure. Whatever happened it's truly sad and tragic. Fortunately I don't have to drive across any bridges or elevated freeway everyday to work since right now I think I'd be scared!

I think I drive daily across the worst bridge in Mn. why it hasn't fallen in yet is totally beyond anyone who drives across it. I will be afraid from here on.

 

[SieSie]

Me too... there are a lot of good people out there, that do care.

Yes, thankfully, there are!!

You know SieSie this is so true. Whenever I see people working together to help people they do not know, it truly brings a tear to my eye.

It is heartwarming, isn't it? Makes me feel proud to be human when I hear these stories, as opposed to all the violent crimes I normally read about.

 

[panthera]

I think I drive daily across the worst bridge in Mn. why it hasn't fallen in yet is totally beyond anyone who drives across it. I will be afraid from here on.

I pray nothing happens ~ we'd miss you!! What's amazing to me about this bridge is it really doesn't span that much water compared with other bridges that are much longer and face more severe winds and climate changes.

 

[cheko1]

Thanks Buzz ~ I've heard several different reports about what work was actually being done on the bridge besides resurfacing. I know what you're talking about with the expansion joints and was just wondering what the failure could've been. Could the contractor have been trying to reinforce them maybe and actually weakened them? Sorry but I'm not an engineer!

PCI was the contractor doing the work. Media pulled up 9 different violations on them..........none since 2005.

On Nancy Grace tonight a reporter supposedly asked them if they were using jack hammers PCI refused to answer. I tried so hard to call in & tell Nancy yes they were using them.

Like hubby says they're all going to try to COA.

 

[Buzz Mills]

I pray nothing happens ~ we'd miss you!! What's amazing to me about this bridge is it really doesn't span that much water compared with other bridges that are much longer and face more severe winds and climate changes.

I heard 1900 feet. That was a short bridge.