Bridge over Mississippi river collapses in MN

jrenz

Banned
Jan 11, 2006
1,788
0
0
I'm surprised... it's been about an hour and no posts. Breaking news. Turn on the TV for your story.

Apparently around 100 cars in the water, train crushed under concrete, etc.

Cause unknown, but may be related to construction work.

CNN Link
 

Wheezer

Diamond Member
Nov 2, 1999
6,731
1
81
As much as I hope against it, I am sure there will be casualties.

rose.gif


Prayers to those that may have died and/or injured in this tragedy.
 

Genx87

Lifer
Apr 8, 2002
41,091
513
126
I travel that bridge often and one of the local news stations got a hold of an inspection report from May 2006 that indicated fatigue and stress cracking on the stupport structure.

One thing about that bridge I have always noticed. It moves an awful lot up and down compared to most bridges I have driven over. It almost felt like my tires were out of alignment.

My sister had a lab tonight at the U of M. I am /praying she wasnt stuck on that thing when it collapsed.
 

jrenz

Banned
Jan 11, 2006
1,788
0
0
Originally posted by: Wheezer
As much as I hope against it, I am sure there will be casualties.

rose.gif


Prayers to those that may have died and/or injured in this tragedy.

I heard 2 confirmed so far... but I'm sure there will be more unfortunately.
 

jrenz

Banned
Jan 11, 2006
1,788
0
0
You'd think that with all the trillions of dollars we've invested in homeland security, we'd have a carrier strike group half way up the river by now...
 

Genx87

Lifer
Apr 8, 2002
41,091
513
126
Originally posted by: jrenz
You'd think that with all the trillions of dollars we've invested in homeland security, we'd have a carrier strike group half way up the river by now...

We are in the middle of a drought up here. Doubt they could get a navy dingy up the river, much less a carrier. One thing, lucky this didnt happen in late April or the water flow would be a big problem.
 

Idontcare

Elite Member
Oct 10, 1999
21,110
59
91
Originally posted by: jrenz
You'd think that with all the trillions of dollars we've invested in homeland security, we'd have a carrier strike group half way up the river by now...

Huh!? Did you absorb anything from how the government handled Katrina?
 

palehorse

Lifer
Dec 21, 2005
11,521
0
76
Originally posted by: Idontcare
Originally posted by: jrenz
You'd think that with all the trillions of dollars we've invested in homeland security, we'd have a carrier strike group half way up the river by now...

Huh!? Did you absorb anything from how the government handled Katrina?
Does that mean that you'd rather they not show up to help if your town ever gets hit? Would you opt out altogether of government support following a disaster?

interesting...

Hey GENX, I'll be over here praying that your sis is good to go! (I'll add her to the list! ;))
 

Genx87

Lifer
Apr 8, 2002
41,091
513
126
Sister called, she was in a lab and totally oblivious to what happened. Her lab started at 6:00. Probably drove over it ~30 mins before it collapsed.

 

miketheidiot

Lifer
Sep 3, 2004
11,060
1
0
My cousing works downtown, but forgot something at work and went back before crossing the bridge, got back and it was sirens all over.

Originally posted by: Genx87
Originally posted by: jrenz
You'd think that with all the trillions of dollars we've invested in homeland security, we'd have a carrier strike group half way up the river by now...

We are in the middle of a drought up here. Doubt they could get a navy dingy up the river, much less a carrier. One thing, lucky this didnt happen in late April or the water flow would be a big problem.

msp is in a drought? fargo/gf are quite damp still. :Q
 

Summitdrinker

Golden Member
May 10, 2004
1,193
0
0
so far nobody I know is involved, I live in the twin cities, I call a few late at work, telling to travel other routes home
 

feralkid

Lifer
Jan 28, 2002
16,724
4,830
136
Originally posted by: Genx87
Sister called, she was in a lab and totally oblivious to what happened. Her lab started at 6:00. Probably drove over it ~30 mins before it collapsed.



Well that's good news...so far everyone I know who works at the U has checked in safe as well...keeping my fingers crossed.
 
Feb 10, 2000
30,029
67
91
What an awful night. My secretary and good friend COULD have been on the bridge but wasn't, thank God. I hope the death toll isn't too bad, but it's distressing that so far only 28 people have been taken to Hennepin County Medical Center, where most of them would likely fetch up.

I travel that bridge often and one of the local news stations got a hold of an inspection report from May 2006 that indicated fatigue and stress cracking on the stupport structure.

One thing about that bridge I have always noticed. It moves an awful lot up and down compared to most bridges I have driven over. It almost felt like my tires were out of alignment.

I have never noticed this myself. As to your first point, I heard on NPR that the bridge was inspected in 2005 and 2006 and cleared as safe until at least 2020.

In any case, my thoughts are with the dead and wounded and their families.
 

ProfJohn

Lifer
Jul 28, 2006
18,161
7
0
Sadly bridges fall down once every few years.

If the death toll is only 6 then we should glad that it wasn?t worse.
 
Feb 10, 2000
30,029
67
91
Originally posted by: ProfJohn
Sadly bridges fall down once every few years.

If the death toll is only 6 then we should glad that it wasn?t worse.

If it turns out that way (which is unlikely, sadly - it appears the casualties will be significantly higher), I agree 100% as to your latter point. As to the former, this is a fairly unusual event - this isn't merely a bridge - it is a segment of an enormous, arterial freeway, and it isn't that often that such a structure collapses without an earthquake or similar triggering event.
 

PELarson

Platinum Member
Mar 27, 2001
2,289
0
0
Originally posted by: DonVito
Originally posted by: ProfJohn
Sadly bridges fall down once every few years.

If the death toll is only 6 then we should glad that it wasn?t worse.

If it turns out that way (which is unlikely, sadly - it appears the casualties will be significantly higher), I agree 100% as to your latter point. As to the former, this is a fairly unusual event - this isn't merely a bridge - it is a segment of an enormous, arterial freeway, and it isn't that often that such a structure collapses without an earthquake or similar triggering event.

Sounds like a few, limited but a few, similarities to the 1987 I-90(NYS Thruway) bridge collapse in the Schoharie creek.
 

GoPackGo

Diamond Member
Oct 10, 2003
6,504
566
126
I live in Minnesota and this is a pretty big deal.

Traffic in the Twin Cities is already a mess.

This will make it a nightmare for YEARS.

 

CycloWizard

Lifer
Sep 10, 2001
12,348
1
81
rose.gif


The one good thing about Ohio traffic systems (sorry for those of you who live there and like it, but my five years there left me a little disgruntled with the way the traffic system works, partially because of numerous hit-and-runs :p) was that they have very quickly adopted composite bridge decks. Carbon composite decks are minimally more expensive than concrete, can be put in place and completely ready in a matter of two days, and fatigue at a rate less than one third of that of traditional bridges. IIRC, all new and refurbished bridges in Ohio will use composites as part of an initiative with the Air Force Research Lab Composites Branch. Living in St. Louis now, I'm painfully aware of the problems we're having with the I-44/I-55/I-64/I-70 bridge over the river. Several major cracks have developed just since I've been here and it has been under construction for almost the entire three years that I've been here. The simple solution would be to adopt a plan like Ohio's, but that doesn't appear to be on anyone's mind at this point and I wouldn't be surprised if we have more collapses like this one. :(
 

Ronstang

Lifer
Jul 8, 2000
12,493
18
81
I wonder if more bridge collapses happen in places with cold snowy winters? The extremes in temperatures they are subjected to could have a significant impact on their deterioration I would assume. I know the roads up north sure can be crap due to the constant freezing/thawing cycle.
 

Thegonagle

Diamond Member
Jun 8, 2000
9,773
0
71
Originally posted by: Ronstang
I wonder if more bridge collapses happen in places with cold snowy winters? The extremes in temperatures they are subjected to could have a significant impact on their deterioration I would assume. I know the roads up north sure can be crap due to the constant freezing/thawing cycle.

Hmmm. Road salt could have a deleterious effect on the structure. This bridge also happened to have a first-of-its-kind de-icing system installed around the year 2000. Little pop-up spray heads embedded in the pavement would spray the lanes with liquid de-icer at regular intervals in extremely cold weather. I happened to see them in action just once while driving over the bridge--it's very similar to an automatic lawn sprinkler head. I wonder whether the liquid de-icer could have affected the structure.