I don’t know what caused the bridge to collapse, but here is an article snippet:
“One Dead, 28 Injured in Minneapolis Bridge Collapse Over Mississippi River
I-35W bridge in Minneapolis collapses near Univ. of Minnesota”
Last Edited: Wednesday, 01 Aug 2007, 9:00 PM CDT
Created: Wednesday, 01 Aug 2007, 7:00 PM CDT
MINNEAPOLIS —
ARTICLE SNIPPET: “20-30 construction workers were on the bridge at the time of the collapse, working on a re-construction project. The bridge was built in 1967.”
Every report so far, inlcuding eye witness accounts, says the only “construction work” being done on the bridge was resurfacing.
Thank you to a special freepmailer for pointing to this article:
http://img.iht.com/images/2007/08/02/02bridge550.jpg
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/08/02/america/02cndbridge.php
“Bridge collapse in Minneapolis kills at least 6”
By Libby Sander and Susan Saulny
Published: August 1, 2007
ARTICLE SNIPPET: “According to the Minnesota Department of Transportation, the eight lanes of I-35W crossing the river were supposed to be restricted to a much reduced flow beginning on Tuesday night for the northbound lanes and at 8 p.m. Wednesday for the southbound lanes, about two hours after the collapse. The reason stated on the agency’s Web site was “overlay work,” which refers to roadway resurfacing.
A 2001 evaluation of the bridge, prepared for the state transportation department by the University of Minnesota Civil Engineering Department, reported that there were preliminary signs of fatigue on the steel truss section under the roadway, but no cracking. It said there was no need for the transportation department to replace the bridge because of fatigue cracking.”
