Minneapolis: Bridge collapses into Mississippi River

[gonzoislost]

Bridge Collapses Into Miss. River

A freeway bridge spanning the Mississippi River collapsed during evening rush hour Wednesday, sending many cars into the water.

Tons of concrete collapsed and there were injuries, authorities said. Survivors were being carried up the riverbank.

Some people were stranded on parts of the bridge that weren't completely submerged.The entire span of the Interstate 35W bridge collapsed about 6:05 p.m. where the freeway crosses the river near University Avenue in Minneapolis.

Source: ABC News ;CNN

[gdodson]

Local news says that there is one known death due to drowning so far and multiple injuries. Luckily all of the school children in the bus made it out safely.

[TDQuiksilver]

I'm hearing and reading 3 people dead so far. 50-ish cars involved? Oy... interesting to see a bridge that destroyed just from a collapse.

[stanley porkchop]

Scary stuff.

Reminds me of The Mothman Prophecies.

[Fred Derf Veteran]

The Twins baseball game on Thursday has been postponed. They were also going to open their new stadium.

[gonzoislost]

Could this be part of a terrorist attack? How old was the bridge?

[markwolfe Veteran]

Could this be part of a terrorist attack? How old was the bridge?

Not an attack. The bridge was built in 1967, and was under some re-construction work (mostly on the road surface, potholes and such). I read one report that a structural engineer indicated that it seemed to be a steel failure, not a concrete failure, and that the bridge had passed both of its previous two inspections in the past two years.

EDIT: Minnesota born and raised here. My condolences to the families of those who died.

[gunnerhkjp]

Damn. We'll probably see lawsuits of scale we have never seen.

[x-scratch]

thats just sad & what sucks is it was rush hour even if anybody wanted to throw the car in reverse couldnt without hitting others

[Thrawn]

I found this image of the interstate W35 bridge before it collapsed... it looks pretty flimsy for a bridge if you ask me:

http://www.mymotormaid.com/news/bridge.html

[Fedorpheux]

I found this image of the interstate W35 bridge before it collapsed... it looks pretty flimsy for a bridge if you ask me:

http://www.mymotormaid.com/news/bridge.html

Wow, that's significantly higher off the ground than I thought it would be (for some reason). That'd be a hell of a ride (if you survived it).

[argonite]

Wow, that's significantly higher off the ground than I thought it would be (for some reason). That'd be a hell of a ride (if you survived it).

That'd kill your suspension though.

[Fedorpheux]

That'd kill your suspension though.

Yeah, but think about how great your mpg is while you're in mid-air! ;)

[Quillz]

I'm hearing and reading 3 people dead so far. 50-ish cars involved? Oy... interesting to see a bridge that destroyed just from a collapse.

It was a 40-year-old arch bridge, it's not going to be nearly as durable as something like a suspension bridge. Oddly enough, the bridge was actually undergoing some renovation just before it collapsed, I wonder if that in any way compromised the foundations of the bridge.

[gonzoislost]

Not an attack. The bridge was built in 1967, and was under some re-construction work (mostly on the road surface, potholes and such). I read one report that a structural engineer indicated that it seemed to be a steel failure, not a concrete failure, and that the bridge had passed both of its previous two inspections in the past two years.

EDIT: Minnesota born and raised here. My condolences to the families of those who died.

ahh ok. Just checking. Stange this had collapsed.it was Bulit in 1967 should have stayed. Now a local bridge, located in portland oregon, was bulit in 1925

The Sellwood Bridge. Already showing cracks, they had to limet the bridge to 10 tons, causing the busses and trucks to go else ware. They are working on a way to get enough money to replace the bridge. The bridge, the only closest way to get to Oaks Park. A Local amusment park just on the other side of the river. I do bleive the Sellwood bridge is the oldest in the city of portland. Only time untill this one colpases.

I found this image of the interstate W35 bridge before it collapsed... it looks pretty flimsy for a bridge if you ask me:

http://www.mymotormaid.com/news/bridge.html

Yeah, wheres the support? theres NO support...

[Fred Derf Veteran]

Yet the bridge has passed two inspections in the last two years. Perhaps they have been using clerks who only look for obvious cracks and not professional engineers to do the inspections.

[markwolfe Veteran]

Yet the bridge has passed two inspections in the last two years. Perhaps they have been using clerks who only look for obvious cracks and not professional engineers to do the inspections.

Yeah, I think those were 'state' inspections. It seems that a federal inspection rated the bridge with a score of 50 (scale of 1 to 120). I guess it makes you wonder how close to "fail" those other "pass" ratings were...

[Samboini]

It's no surprise it collapsed, from the looks of it I could of blown it down. Maybe they should try x-ray inspection or more intensive inspection methods in the future. Anyway, as an engineer it would be interesting to see the report.

[t_r_nelson]

I live in a Southern suburb of Minneapolis and, as someone who has driven over this bridge numerous times, it makes me shiver to think about what was going through people's heads when they flipped into the water. One woman told her story of immediately rolling her window down and swimming out. The water is only 8 to 10ft (2-1/2 to 3m) deep in that area.

What really scares me is what would have happened had I been on there and I had my son in the car. Could I have gotten him out in time? Would we both be dead? I scares the hell out of me just to think of that happening.

My condolences to all who are affected by this. I'm sure I know someone who will have lost someone in this tragedy.

[Ficman]

Can you imagine getting caught up in that... Video of it sure looks odd, that bridge dropped like a rock. The entire thing dropped, be interesting to hear what happened... Condolences to anyone involved...

[ViableLobster83]

This was unbelievable yesterday (still is). I live about 15 minutes from that bridge and had to use it quite a bit when I worked at my last job. I only wish the best to those involved and their families and friends.

The local news said engineers expect that a replacement bridge will not be up until 2009-2010.

[gonzoislost]

^ lets hope this new one will have better support

[virgo89]

Here is the video of the collapse,

http://www.break.com/index/security-tape-o...i-collapse.html

[SuperJediMedia]

Here is the video of the collapse,

http://www.break.com/index/security-tape-o...i-collapse.html

Good Lord! :(

[Samboini]

Here is the video of the collapse,

http://www.break.com/index/security-tape-o...i-collapse.html

###### hell. I hope casualties are kept to a minimum.