WI - 35W bridge in Minneapolis collapses!

[cheko1]

Well, I am feeling Oh-so-safe here in my state now! Check it out...We are on the top of the worst bridges list in the nation!

An analysis of 2006 Federal Highway Administration data found that Minnesota bridges were generally in better shape than those in other states. Only about 6 percent of the state's 20,000 bridges were listed as being structurally deficient. In Oklahoma, nearly 27 percent of bridges were cited by the federal government as being structurally deficient, the highest percentage among the states.
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/08/02/ap3983762.html

A huge percentage of those are termed "obsolete", too! Sheesh!

Of course, I remember driving over bridges like this on a school bus, then later on when I first got my license!! The boards would creak underneath you and if you drove off the main boards...you could almost feel the wood splinter under the tires! It was scary stuff.

http://okbridges.wkinsler.com/birdcreek7.html

You sure make us feel like your safe where your at SS!! NOT!
The last pix made me laugh!!! Reminds me of bridges in Ia when I was a kid. But heck they never fell down.

 

[SeriouslySearching]

True! Those old bridges are at least still standing even tho you can't drive on most of them anymore! We actually still have a couple of those in use in that county, believe it or not!

Yes, I am not going back to work ever again. : P I have to cross a huge expanse over the Arkansas River everytime. I do like the idea of a ferry tho! That would be awesome!

 

[laini]

I'd be more then willing to pay to drive on a toll road if the money were used to keep the roads & bridges safe. I also think they could have a toll bridge to get across. I'm originally from Iowa & we had them there.
quote]


There are/were toll boothes in Iowa? I have lived here almost 30 years and have never seen or heard of one in Iowa. Where are they? TIA

 

[cheko1]

I'd be more then willing to pay to drive on a toll road if the money were used to keep the roads & bridges safe. I also think they could have a toll bridge to get across. I'm originally from Iowa & we had them there.
quote]


There are/were toll boothes in Iowa? I have lived here almost 30 years and have never seen or heard of one in Iowa. Where are they? TIA

Not toll roads in Iowa. But they have a toll bridge in Davenport to get to Rock Island. They used to have 2 pay bridges in Davenport.

 

[cheko1]

I just got these in a email............some very awesome pictures of the bridge collapse.

http://www.conphoto.net/collapse.html

 

[laini]

Not toll roads in Iowa. But they have a toll bridge in Davenport to get to Rock Island. They used to have 2 pay bridges in Davenport.

Ahh! I was actually wondering if that was where it might be you were talking about. Thanks for replying

 

[cheko1]

Ahh! I was actually wondering if that was where it might be you were talking about. Thanks for replying

Not a problem! I was born & raised near Davenport.

 

[cheko1]

I just got these in a email............some very awesome pictures of the bridge collapse.

[URL="http://www.conphoto.net/collapse.html"]http://www.conphoto.net/collapse.html[/URL]

Not trying to answer my own post just wanted everyone to see the pictures!

 

[SeriouslySearching]

I have been to Iowa a couple of times! Got caught in a blizzard there a couple of times, too. Hmmm...glad I divorced that man now. LOL

 

[cheko1]

I have been to Iowa a couple of times! Got caught in a blizzard there a couple of times, too. Hmmm...glad I divorced that man now. LOL

The blizzards aren't very nice... I've also been caught in several. I also divorced my blizzard too. LOL

 

[Gina_M]

Not trying to answer my own post just wanted everyone to see the pictures!

Wow...I had read about the train passing underneath that got crushed but hadn't seen pictures yet. From the pics it looks like a freight train. For a minute I thought it was a passenger train and that really freaked me out.

 

[SeriouslySearching]

Not trying to answer my own post just wanted everyone to see the pictures!

WOW! Those are amazing pics!!! A great work of photojournalism! They are surreal. I noticed in one there was a plastic construction barrel that is still sitting by itself in center of the lanes and probably never moved. Incredible!!!

I am glad you put this post back up. Thanks as I must have missed it before, Cheko!

 

[SeriouslySearching]

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

The blizzards aren't very nice... I've also been caught in several. I also divorced my blizzard too. LOL

 

[cheko1]

Wow...I had read about the train passing underneath that got crushed but hadn't seen pictures yet. From the pics it looks like a freight train. For a minute I thought it was a passenger train and that really freaked me out.

Yes it is a freight train.I'm not sure passenger trains run in the Twin Cities does anyone else know?

 

[SeriouslySearching]

Those cars are very sturdy steel and they look like someone just grabbed them and squeezed. All the cars, trucks, etc. look like toys. Very hard to wrap your mind around.

 

[cheko1]

WOW! Those are amazing pics!!! A great work of photojournalism! They are surreal. I noticed in one there was a plastic construction barrel that is still sitting by itself in center of the lanes and probably never moved. Incredible!!!

I am glad you put this post back up. Thanks as I must have missed it before, Cheko!

I was shocked when I got them. Puts a face on this disaster.....Can't even imagine it collapsed.

 

[cheko1]

Those cars are very sturdy steel and they look like someone just grabbed them and squeezed. All the cars, trucks, etc. look like toys. Very hard to wrap your mind around.

Can't imagine how severe it really is til you look at them pix. A wonder anyone survived it.

 

[SeriouslySearching]

I was shocked when I got them. Puts a face on this disaster.....Can't even imagine it collapsed.

Exactly. I like that..."It puts a face on this disaster". Great line, Cheko!

Who took those photos? They must have gotten there immediately afterward because I am not seeing many police, but more civilians. Then there is the one with what looks to be a woman standing alone on the second deck...eerie sight knowing what she had just been thru.

OK this just up on our news...WHO does this guy think he is talking to?! I read the reports already on our local bridges and it is NOT what TRIP says at all! Hmmmm...wonder if I should send him the articles?! Maybe he doesn't know! LOL

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Oklahoma Department of Transportation officials sought to reassure the public Thursday that the state's bridges are safe for motorists.
http://www.kotv.com/news/local/story/?id=132934

Here they are discussing the bridge I cross twice a day or more for work! Ack!:

"A deck may look great, but then like across underneath of the Arkansas River where you have chlorides or something like that attacking the bridge, you may have a beam underneath that has come out of contact with its support,” said deputy director Paul Zachary.
Zachary watches 256 bridges in the Tulsa city limits. He says dozens are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete.
http://www.kotv.com/news/local/story/?id=132904

 

[Trino]

Exactly. I like that..."It puts a face on this disaster". Great line, Cheko!

Who took those photos? They must have gotten there immediately afterward because I am not seeing many police, but more civilians. Then there is the one with what looks to be a woman standing alone on the second deck...eerie sight knowing what she had just been thru.

OK this just up on our news...WHO does this guy think he is talking to?! I read the reports already on our local bridges and it is NOT what TRIP says at all! Hmmmm...wonder if I should send him the articles?! Maybe he doesn't know! LOL

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Oklahoma Department of Transportation officials sought to reassure the public Thursday that the state's bridges are safe for motorists.
http://www.kotv.com/news/local/story/?id=132934

Here they are discussing the bridge I cross twice a day or more for work! Ack!:

"A deck may look great, but then like across underneath of the Arkansas River where you have chlorides or something like that attacking the bridge, you may have a beam underneath that has come out of contact with its support,” said deputy director Paul Zachary.
Zachary watches 256 bridges in the Tulsa city limits. He says dozens are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete.
http://www.kotv.com/news/local/story/?id=132904

Dozens are structurally deficient, and the US is spending billions in another country (Iraq). I just want to scream.

Yes, Checko, you can get Amtrak from the TC; the station is in St. Paul near University Avenue. You can take it to Chicago and east and to Seattle. The route to Seattle is the one JJ Hill built.

 

[cheko1]

Dozens are structurally deficient, and the US is spending billions in another country (Iraq). I just want to scream.

Yes, Checko, you can get Amtrak from the TC; the station is in St. Paul near University Avenue. You can take it to Chicago and east and to Seattle. The route to Seattle is the one JJ Hill built.

Thank you Trino, I never knew about Amtrak in St Paul. Figured there must be one just never knew for certain.

Yes they need to start spending billions here & get our country up to the standards its supposed to be. This disaster was ridiculous & needs stopped ASAP.