[Alberta's Child]

The I-35W bridge collapse in Minneapolis occurred in early August 2007. The new bridge that was built in its place was open to traffic in September 2008.

Ironically, replacing a major bridge after a total collapse actually has a FASTER timeline than a project to build a new one or rehabilitate/replace an old one that is obsolete. There are two factors at work here:

1. When a bridge is constructed to replace one that has been taken out of commission unexpectedly due to a disaster, the normal environmental review requirements are waived as long as the new bridge is an "in-kind" replacement of the original one.

2. When a bridge is rehabilitated or replaced as a planned capital project, one of the factors that greatly extends the timeline for completion is the need to keep the old bridge open for traffic while the new one is constructed in stages. This is why it takes far less time to build a new bridge from the ground up than it does to build one in multiple stages to accommodate normal traffic operations as much as possible.

[Red Badger]

That’s what is happening here. The old bridge is still up while the new bridge is being built.

Pensacola’s 3 Mile Bridge took even longer to complete because it sustained major damage during hurricane Sally when two construction barges broke loose from their moorings and collided with the unfinished bridge, knocking out sections of roadway that had already been completed and were being used by traffic...........................