WI - 35W bridge in Minneapolis collapses!

[eve]

Oh eve, I am so glad your son is okay. Just think about how many times he has gone over that bridge...

You have to think that anyone that went over that bridge in the last week or month was risking their life, yet never knew it. Their life was in serious danger. I think it could have gone at anytime. Makes me sick thinking of that.

Laney

Thanks Laney:blowkiss:

It has really made us all think. We live quite a distance from the cities (35 miles or so) and still use that bridge all the time. My stepdaughter and her husband live 2 blocks from it. People are talking about our gas tax being raised to deal with this, to the tune of 35 cents a gallon. I want the infrastructure to be sound and I think people everywhere have to re-prioritize the spending of public money. Here, we have bailed out airlines, put money into sports facilities, parks etc., spent billions on light rail when the majority clearly will not or cannot use it with regularity -- when bridges are collapsing, it seems ridiculous. We know public money is limited and it needs to be spent on the essential, crucial things first.

Eve

 

[Marthatex]

As long as the death toll continues to drop...who cares why the numbers change? It really IS a miracle after seeing the destruction and knowing they fell 64 feet! I know I expected the numbers to be very high in the end and it is simply incredible! While it is very sad they lost anyone and so many are injured, we can be all be thankful it wasn't near what we all had feared. Someone was watching over all of them that day without a doubt.

It is truly amazing that more did not perish; considering what happened and it was right during rush hour. That the school bus was spared is just so fortunate; I don't know how the kids would have gotten out.

The news said the design of the bridge actually helped, as nothing fell down from above.

 

[Taximom]

It is truly amazing that more did not perish; considering what happened and it was right during rush hour. That the school bus was spared is just so fortunate; I don't know how the kids would have gotten out.

The news said the design of the bridge actually helped, as nothing fell down from above.

Your comment about the school bus reminded me of the argument re: seatbelts on school buses. Totally different topic, but had that bus gone under water I can see where seatbelts may have been a hindrance.

 

[Marthatex]

Your comment about the school bus reminded me of the argument re: seatbelts on school buses. Totally different topic, but had that bus gone under water I can see where seatbelts may have been a hindrance.

But they would have been hurt worse on impact without the seatbelts. It would have been a terrible situation either way.

 

[Taximom]

But they would have been hurt worse on impact without the seatbelts. It would have been a terrible situation either way.

I think so too, but someone diving under water might have been able rescue free bodies rather than having to go in the bus and unbuckle everyone.

It sounds like some of these kids would have been able to unbuckle themselves anyway.

Well, like I said, off-topic here but food for thought.

 

[cheko1]

Thanks Laney:blowkiss:

It has really made us all think. We live quite a distance from the cities (35 miles or so) and still use that bridge all the time. My stepdaughter and her husband live 2 blocks from it. People are talking about our gas tax being raised to deal with this, to the tune of 35 cents a gallon. I want the infrastructure to be sound and I think people everywhere have to re-prioritize the spending of public money. Here, we have bailed out airlines, put money into sports facilities, parks etc., spent billions on light rail when the majority clearly will not or cannot use it with regularity -- when bridges are collapsing, it seems ridiculous. We know public money is limited and it needs to be spent on the essential, crucial things first.

Eve

I was shocked to hear the gas tax will be raised 35 cents per gallon. I'd think the people who cross the bridge should have to pay a toll after it is built. That would make more sense, the people that use it should pay for it.

On the news they're always asking the state of Mn to help pay for a retractable dome for sporting events. The airlines & light rail should chip in on paying for the bridge.

I sincerely don't understand why the gas tax should be raised to make everyone suffer. If they charged $1.00 for every vehicle to cross the bridge they could have it paid for in no time. They state 140 thousand vehicles a day cross it, would make more sense to charge everyone who uses it, the revenue would be staggering for Mn.

 

[PrayersForMaura]

As long as the death toll continues to drop...who cares why the numbers change? It really IS a miracle after seeing the destruction and knowing they fell 64 feet! I know I expected the numbers to be very high in the end and it is simply incredible! While it is very sad they lost anyone and so many are injured, we can be all be thankful it wasn't near what we all had feared. Someone was watching over all of them that day without a doubt.

yeah, but sometimes the media and warped people hope for more deaths so they can blame everyone including government. It is not "interesting" enough to some people if it isn't more "tragic".

I totally agree with you... it was a true miracle. It could've been hundreds dead ... or thousands even.

 

[reportertype]

yeah, but sometimes the media and warped people hope for more deaths so they can blame everyone including government. It is not "interesting" enough to soe people if it isn't more "tragic".

I totally agree with you... it was a true miracle. It could've been hundreds dead ... or thousands even.

Actually, some members of the media probably want to make sure they have the correct numbers of dead/missing, etc. because people, INCLUDING family members and friends of those people want accurate information. As a member of the media, I can assure everyone that VERY few of us actually WANT people to die. I certainly do not.

 

[PrayersForMaura]

Actually, some members of the media probably want to make sure they have the correct numbers of dead/missing, etc. because people, INCLUDING family members and friends of those people want accurate information. As a member of the media, I can assure everyone that VERY few of us actually WANT people to die. I certainly do not.

then perhaps some of the media should wait a bit before reporting things as factual

 

[Marthatex]

I was shocked to hear the gas tax will be raised 35 cents per gallon. I'd think the people who cross the bridge should have to pay a toll after it is built. That would make more sense, the people that use it should pay for it.

On the news they're always asking the state of Mn to help pay for a retractable dome for sporting events. The airlines & light rail should chip in on paying for the bridge.

I sincerely don't understand why the gas tax should be raised to make everyone suffer. If they charged $1.00 for every vehicle to cross the bridge they could have it paid for in no time. They state 140 thousand vehicles a day cross it, would make more sense to charge everyone who uses it, the revenue would be staggering for Mn.

Federal gas tax should be lowered, and state tax raised - it's the state that should decide what their transportation needs are; not some Washington beaurocrat who's trying to please a constituency.

Alot of our transportation money is wasted on "pork barrel", highways to nowhere, etc. People should pay a mass transit tax when they actually have mass transit in their city; if you only have a few buses you shouldn't have to pay that tax. IMO

Our Highway Trust Fund is getting lower and lower, yet highways and bridges are getting worse, congestion is worse. Toll roads are being built here to provide for new roads.

Some people think we could even have private sector investment in our transportation; I don't know.

 

[Buzz Mills]

I was shocked to hear the gas tax will be raised 35 cents per gallon. I'd think the people who cross the bridge should have to pay a toll after it is built. That would make more sense, the people that use it should pay for it.

On the news they're always asking the state of Mn to help pay for a retractable dome for sporting events. The airlines & light rail should chip in on paying for the bridge.

I sincerely don't understand why the gas tax should be raised to make everyone suffer. If they charged $1.00 for every vehicle to cross the bridge they could have it paid for in no time. They state 140 thousand vehicles a day cross it, would make more sense to charge everyone who uses it, the revenue would be staggering for Mn.

Isn't that $0.35 just speculation as to how much the gas tax would have to be raised to accomplish the needed annual funds to begin a 20 year program to rehabilitate our infrastucture, including bridges.

All too often, it's about how much more they need in taxes, rather than eliminating all of those unnecessary beaurocratic expenses in government that they keep talking about doing something about.

 

[panthera]

As long as the death toll continues to drop...who cares why the numbers change? It really IS a miracle after seeing the destruction and knowing they fell 64 feet! I know I expected the numbers to be very high in the end and it is simply incredible! While it is very sad they lost anyone and so many are injured, we can be all be thankful it wasn't near what we all had feared. Someone was watching over all of them that day without a doubt.

I couldn't agree more! The more I see pictures of the bridge literally in pieces and how many cars were on it, it is nothing short of a miracle that more lives weren't lost. I definitely see His hand on those children in the bus and the young man who is a paraplegic.

 

[reportertype]

They can't wait; people would be castigating us then for not getting information. I was wondering myself when I noticed the number of missing went from 30 to 8.

Anyway, marthatex, you are correct about the gas taxes. States do know better what they need. Of course, some states don't get back what they pay to the feds in gas taxes. That's all political -- some states who are more favorable to an administration will get more back from that.

 

[Buzz Mills]

Federal gas tax should be lowered, and state tax raised - it's the state that should decide what their transportation needs are; not some Washington beaurocrat who's trying to please a constituency.

Alot of our transportation money is wasted on "pork barrel", highways to nowhere, etc. People should pay a mass transit tax when they actually have mass transit in their city; if you only have a few buses you shouldn't have to pay that tax. IMO

Our Highway Trust Fund is getting lower and lower, yet highways and bridges are getting worse, congestion is worse. Toll roads are being built here to provide for new roads.

Some people think we could even have private sector investment in our transportation; I don't know.

In CA, we pay hefty tolls on our major bridges, at least in the Bay Area, for the Golden Gate, Bay Bridge, Dumbarton, San Mateo, Benicia.

 

[Buzz Mills]

Speaking of wasted funds:

The palatial U.S. embassy in Iraq is estimated to have cost $592 million.

Ever notice the furniture in your Congressperson's office? They never skimp on anything.

 

[panthera]

In CA, we pay hefty tolls on our major bridges, at least in the Bay Area, for the Golden Gate, Bay Bridge, Dumbarton, San Mateo, Benicia.

I can imagine that costing a small fortune for those who have to use the bridges daily, but well worth it if the tolls go to the upkeep of the bridges. Didn't someone say after the MN collapse that the Bay Bridge wasn't rated that well? Wasn't that the one badly damaged in '89 quake?

 

[Buzz Mills]

I can imagine that costing a small fortune for those who have to use the bridges daily, but well worth it if the tolls go to the upkeep of the bridges. Didn't someone say after the MN collapse that the Bay Bridge wasn't rated that well? Wasn't that the one badly damaged in '89 quake?

There's a new Bay Bridge being built as we speak. After being approved by the Legislature, the compromise legislation was signed by the Governor on July 18, 2005. At the time of the signing, the skyway portion of the bridge was 75% complete, and the state was beginning to prepare to put the suspension span out for new bids. The entire project is scheduled to be completed in 2012 at a cost of $6.3 billion.

The Bay Bridge handles 280,000 cars a day. Toll is $4.

 

[panthera]

There's a new Bay Bridge being built as we speak. After being approved by the Legislature, the compromise legislation was signed by the Governor on July 18, 2005. At the time of the signing, the skyway portion of the bridge was 75% complete, and the state was beginning to prepare to put the suspension span out for new bids. The entire project is scheduled to be completed in 2012 at a cost of $6.3 billion.

The Bay Bridge handles 280,000 cars a day. Toll is $4.

Thanks I'm glad to see that the Governor has his priorities right. It seems well worth the toll if it is safe.

 

[JBean]

Car Pulled From Water at Bridge Site
By HENRY C. JACKSON and MARK SCOLFORO 08.04.07, 6:36 PM ET

MINNEAPOLIS -
Search crews pulled a crushed car out of the murky water Saturday where a bridge collapsed, and authorities said it was the only car they had found in which the passengers were unaccounted for.

Oops here is the link

 

[panthera]

Car Pulled From Water at Bridge Site
By HENRY C. JACKSON and MARK SCOLFORO 08.04.07, 6:36 PM ET

MINNEAPOLIS -
Search crews pulled a crushed car out of the murky water Saturday where a bridge collapsed, and authorities said it was the only car they had found in which the passengers were unaccounted for.

Oops here is the link

It goes on to say they weren't sure if the car contained any bodies. It's confusing to me!