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Re: Minneapolis Interstate Bridge Collapse
Totally unbelievable.
We travel this bridge many times a week.
It is very fortunate that we are in a major drought; the river is down by over half of its normal flow.
It is also good the six of the eight traffic nearly 2000’ lanes had been closed, therefore fewer cars on the bridge & the fact the cars had been in bumper to bumper stop and go 15mph mode and not moving at 55-60 mph. The traffic was decreased greatly due to the lane closure delays.
Could you imagine if this had taken place if all lanes had been open and river levels at normal at rush hour, nearly 16000’ of traffic lanes moving 55+ mph
I bet it comes back as fault to weight load shifts “side to side” because of the resurfacing work and shifting of traffic, as well as the weight of fresh concrete prior that shift the weights on a weaken structure.
I mean you remove surface material from one side, and then send traffic on the other
and repeat this many times over during this project that was in the completing stages just about ready to pour that final 2” surface of a few of those closed lanes.
It was a recipe to find and further weaken those already weakened structural areas.
My heart goes out to all those that have personally suffered directly from this tragedy.
Traffic was already bad in this area, it will only be worse for the next few years that is will take to replace this massive sized bridge.
Last edited by Jerry Klawiter : 08-02-2007 at 10:17 AM.
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