Bridge Collapses Into Mississippi River

AOL News ^ | August 2, 2007 | PATRICK CONDON and GREGG AAMO,AP

[libstripper]

MINNEAPOLIS (Aug. 2) - An interstate bridge jammed with rush-hour traffic suddenly broke into huge sections and collapsed into the Mississippi River Wednesday, pitching dozens of cars 60 feet into the water and killing at least four people.

The eight-lane Interstate 35W bridge, a major Minneapolis artery, was in the midst of being repaired and two lanes in each direction were closed when the bridge buckled. About 20 families gathered at an information center, looking for information on loved ones they couldn't locate.

"There were two lanes of traffic, bumper to bumper, at the point of the collapse. Those cars did go into the river," said Minneapolis Police Lt. Amelia Huffman. "At this point there is nothing to suggest that this was anything other than a structural collapse."

Authorities had put the death toll at seven, but lowered it to four -- and warned the final number could change as divers search the Mississippi River.

[libstripper]

This is the most recent article about the collapse. It contains a link to a security camera video of the actual collapse.

[TommyDale]

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=1ab_1186054443&p=1

[B.O. Plenty]

Bump

[Pablo64]

GMA has been covering it all morning. Amazing how many people came out unhurt. It certainly could have been even worse than it is.

[Coldwater Creek]

I have said for years that if terrorist wanted to stop the U.S. in their tracks, simultaneously destroy the Mississippi River bridges.

Interstate commerce would totally be destroyed and so the end of America as we know it.

[libstripper]

That’s the video. Changing the subject slightly, I suspect this must be giving the good people of Boston a bit of concern about their own “Big Dig” and the serious structural damage all the leaks are probably doing to it.

[xcamel]

So.. You don't read the "Breaking News sidebar much??

[libstripper]

I ran the search and didn’t find anything.

[rawhide]

Thanks for the video link.

[MizSterious]

This is the same subject, but with new info. Give it a rest.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Yeah. a school bus with 60 kids surviving the fall is nothing short of amazing.

[Rummyfan]

The eight-lane Interstate 35W bridge, a major Minneapolis artery, was in the midst of being repaired and two lanes in each direction were closed when the bridge buckled.

I think somebody made a big big BIG boo boo.

[Hegewisch Dupa]

“the end of America as we know it.”

!

[MizSterious]

This is not a duplicate, pay no attention to the grumbling. I, for one, loathe having to scroll through long threads--the one in the BN sidebar has almost 2,000 posts. If someone else wants to, fine, but I much prefer finding the info I want quickly. I don't have the time to read 2,000 posts (many of them chit-chat anyway) to get the pertinent information.

[YourAdHere]

I agree.

[yldstrk]

“The end of America as we know it”..........America depends on a bridge?!?!?!...........Ever hear of an air bridge? a ferry? Temporary bridge? Land sakes, honey, take it easy.

[gracesdad]

Are we a little grumpy this morning?

[Saundra Duffy]

How absolutely horrible but miraculous that more people weren’t killed or hurt.

[gracesdad]

True taking out the river bridges would pose immense challenges, but there are ways around it and it wouldn’t be the end of America.

[Hegewisch Dupa]

My shock at the very idea was represented (albeit poorly, I see) by the "I don't know what to say so here's a puncuation mark to express my pure shock" symbol.

You know, it works so much better with the cursing (@@$%&!)

[Lazamataz]

WOW!

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

Bad news for the guy who signed off on the last structural inspection report. My guess is that it is no coincidence that the bridge was undergoing some sort of construction/repair work when it collapsed. Something happened that placed too much stress on key trusses, and the whole thing just fell down flat.

[MurryMom]

...taking out the river bridges would pose immense challenges, but there are ways around it and it wouldn’t be the end of America.

Yes, we can always go back to builiding rafts and taking ferry boats for crossing rivers, as in Abe Lincoln's day.

How well can you swim?

[evets]

"What's all this then?"

[Lazamataz]

I offer my sincere prayers: God, thank you for sparing the lives of the children in the schoolbus. May you grant peace, acceptance and serenity to the families of the dead and the injured. Lord, the souls who stand before you today: Judge them fairly and cover them with love.

[yldstrk]

I know...I agreed with you!

[Lurker]

Never heard of a 'barge' have you.

L

[Right Brother]

Oh MurryMom, thank God you’re alive! I heard they found a pair of hemp sandals and a bong floating in the Mississippi river and I thought you were gone.

[giotto]

"At this point there is nothing to suggest that this was anything other than a structural collapse."

And this is supposed to reassure us? An engineer on Coast to Coast last night said that at least 27% of the 575,000 bridges in the US are structurally unsound.

[joebuck]

That’s why I never minded duplicate threads. There are plenty of stories I never would have seen but for duplicate threads. That being said, I don’t have to pay for the server storage so I can certainly understand why the rule is needed and should be followed.

[Lazamataz]

What a metaphor for the Bush administration’s sorry policies including all of its failed legislative efforts in the U.S., the counterproductive invasion of Iraq, and its failed tax policies that have led to skyrocketing deficits and risks to our highways, bridges, and other important domestic infrastructure.

I note that you don't offer a single prayer for the dead, or the families of those who perished.... as I have.

I note that you don't offer a prayer of gratitude that 60 children in a schoolbus, survived.... as I have.

I do note that you take a cheap political shot in the face of tragedy, showing your lack of spirituality and cheap partisan shallowness, your banality, and -- yes -- your evil.

What a metaphor for the Democrat Party.

[Lou L]

Interstate commerce would totally be destroyed and so the end of America as we know it.

There would be some disruptions, but I seriously doubt that we couldn't overcome such a scenario.

[Wings-n-Wind]

THiiiisisssss.. sad affair....

Is the aftermath of controverted spending priorities and liberal/socialist politics...

Instead of caring for the basic boring/routine infrastructure that makes our public accomodations safe and sound...

We spray the people's money around.... The little victim groups du-jour,
And any goofy, PC "cause"....
That might garner a few votes in the next "want-me... love-me... keep-me....keep-me" election cycle.

We DO NOT have our priorities straight -- AND....

Unless we quickly renew the basic values of American life...
It will not only get worse...
It will be OVER... and IRRRECOVERABLE....
Past the tipping point... SOOON, if not SOONER.

It's time....
Wake up, people!!

Let's get with it...

Our beloved America is WORTH IT!!

******

More coffee please.... no decaf, thanks!

[freepertoo]

Thank the Lord, literally, for the high survival rate...especially that school bus full of children.

[MizSterious]

A tragedy has occurred—how convenient for you. You liberals will use anything, even a funeral of one of your own, let alone a lot of strangers you don’t know, to further your sick agenda.

[P-40]

I imagine that was a *state* highway crew doing the repairs.

[Suzy Quzy]

OMG!! I pray for your black soul....how can even you, the UBER DEMOCRAT be so callous? Do you not have any sympathy for your fellow countrymen, or do you just hate Bush soooooo much that you wish all bad to America?

[LibertyGirl77]

The return of MurryMom! LOL

Do the hand-wringers on this thread have any idea how quickly the Army Corps of Engineers can throw up a bridge when necessary? If, God forbid, terrorists took out all the Missisippi crossings, I bet we’d have limited escorted commercial traffic flow back up within a week, whether by temporary bridge or barge.

The end of the world as we know it is not that easy to make happen.

[federal]

You know with the exception of Jimmah Carter there hasn’t been a more worthless President than Bill Clinton, but even when he was elected by 43% and 46% of the vote and was nothing but a crook and a scandel I never felt compelled to blame every accident or tragedy on him.

It must really suck to be you!!!!!!!!!

[Mrs.Z]

"What a metaphor for the Bush administration’s sorry policies" Yep, BUSH'S fault.

[Hegewisch Dupa]

oh. I got that ‘dupa’ thing to live up to.... ;)

[MizSterious]

Taking out “main” bridges wouldn’t bring everything to a halt. There are always lesser bridges that can be used. On the other hand, taking out the lock and dam systems up and down the river(s) would be catastrophic.

[MizSterious]

And, a *state* company that built it, complete with corrupt (Democrat) unions, similar to the Big Dig in Boston.

[KC Burke]

Counting railroad bridges that would be about one hundred bridges over the Mississippi down stream from this one that collapsed with numerous above it.

I was surprised that the number was as high as it is.

[x_plus_one]

Well its not that hard to get a makeshift bridge up in 24 hours if need be.

[KC Burke]

An interesting web page about this bridge can be found Here on John Weeks' web pages. He has photographed almost every Mississippi bridge as a hobby.

[MplsSteve]

I know where that camera is. It’s located at the security gate near Lock and Dam 2. The camera is facing northwards.

Besides the obvious death and destruction, all recreational and commercial barge traffic will be blocked for quite a while. There’s quite a bit of barge traffic on that section of the river...lots of coal, grain, fuel oil and cement.

I hope the Army Corps of Engineers can get the channel re-opened before the fall harvest. At that time, a lot of grain gets moved in barges.

[rockinqsranch]

Thanks for the link. Incredible!