Pre-Collapse Photos Show Bends on Bridge (I-35 Minn 13 dead)

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Old photos of the Interstate 35W bridge show two steel connecting plates were visibly bent as early as 2003 - four years before the span collapsed into the Mississippi River, killing 13 people.

Minnesota Department of Transportation officials declined to say when the state first knew about the bending in the pieces of steel, called gusset plates.

Two photos, part of a report issued earlier this month by the National Transportation Safety Board, reveal slight bends in gusset plates that hold beams together at two separate connecting points. The plates are in areas believed to be among the first points of failure when the span collapsed.

The NTSB's Office of Highway Safety confirmed that the bowing is part of the investigation into why the bridge collapsed Aug. 1, the Star Tribune newspaper reported Sunday.


Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20080323/D8VJAHL00.html

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And: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hzIKjkqgtegSS2txLpdxMQTnksfQD8VJAHL00

Photos at this link.

Bent gusset plates on the Interstate 35 W bridge are seen ( center) in this 2003 photo released by the National Transportation Safety Board.old photos of the Interstate 35W bridge show two gusset plates were visibly bent as early as 2003 _ four years before the span collapsed into the Mississippi River, killing 13 people. Photos released this month by the National Transportation Safety Board show the plates that hold beams together at two separate connecting points are slightly bent. The plates are in areas believed to be among the first points of failure, and the photos are stamped with the dates June 10, 2003 and June 12, 2003.

[panader0]

1. Off the subject Steve.....

I hope all went OK at the hospital. Thanks for your untiring contributions to the labor forum.

[Omaha Steve]

3. Thank you

As for the bridge story a member of my International Union (AFSCME)was on the bridge doing an inspection as it collapsed. He was presumed dead until he was located at the hospital in surgery.

I'm doing better than expected. They didn't work on the AC joint. The bandage came off today. I can't raise my (right) arm yet. Ice, pain killers, and therapy will be going on for awhile. I got some nice photos of the fragments and spurs the doctor took out. I see him again on the 31st. I'll be home from work for awhile. For those that don't know I was hurt on the job Dec. 17th. The first doctor said I was fine. He only took x-rays. An MRI 3 weeks later when my shoulder stated to swell showed the tendon tears etc... Work comp can really suck. :-( Knowing the law and a good lawyer are a must for it.

[Kayakbiker]

11. Fix the country

If liberal Minnesota has problems, the entire nation does.

The collapsed bridge is an icon that reminds us that money for war isn't spent on infrastructure, education, healthcare, etc.

[truthisfreedom]

2. Oops. I wonder who decided to release this info to the press?

With the horrible tragedy associated with this collapse, it's sure to re-open wounds and give strength to the voices crying for someone to take responsibility since the event.

[mac2]

19. They want to build another bridge across the Mississippi

Just recently I saw they closed the existing bridge saying it was unsafe.

I demanded (in an e-mail to a government person deciding about a new one) that if they are going to use tax payer funds to build a new bridge in that area they don't "privatize" it to collect tolls, etc. I'm sick of Spain, etc. profiting off our roads and bridges which were publicly paid for.

It is my opinion that new bridges and roads are being expanded for the NAFTA highway between Canada and Mexico (at our expense). Allowing them to go in dis-repair and then fail is criminal intent (like New Orleans levees) especially in Democratic areas. Problems were ignored and not addressed.

Why trust anything I hear since 911?

[madrchsod]

4. they were adding on to that rust bucket?

who in the hell approved the adding on to that bridge...anyone looking at that bridge before that started construction should have known that the structure could`t take anymore loading. to bad there will be no crimnal charges for those who inspected and approved the construction.

the plates were bent so they should have known the bridge was collapsing. i can`t get over the thickness of the plates,the box beams,and the H/I beams.

[mac2]

14. Those bent plates were seen in 2003?

When was the bridge built? This was a repair? Maybe they did it on purpose and when other factors happened in repair stages...it went down.

Yes the bridge inspectors were negligent not to have fixed the bent plates.

[bluesmail]

5. It's Criminal

criminal

[snappyturtle]

6. My son called from St. CLoud,MN north of the cities, to tell me of yet another bridge!

He called me Friday...his girlfriend drove across the bridge, the main one, I've forgotten the route 23? maybe, that morning....one lane closed in each direction and men "hanging off the sides of the bridge"!

Later in the day the bridge was closed to all traffic...(really cripples St.Cloud) because defective plates were found! He said the authorities are trying to ascertain whether the bridge can be repaired or whether it needs total replacement! Another disaster waiting to happen.

I'll look to see if I can find an article on it.

edit:This is a major bridge across the Mississippi River.

Here's an article from MN Public Radio:http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/03/21/bridge_bounce/

[Pierre.Suave]

7. I saw that article too

It stated that the designer of that bridge was also the designer of the failed 35W bridge, in fact they were as identical as two bridges can be.

The solid steel half inch thick gusset plates were bent a quarter inch on the st cloud bridge.

It is a shame there there will be nobody held accountable in this disaster.

[mac2]

21. Same MO

Are they trying to cripple us or build new roads/bridges at tax payer expense? Expand them for NAFTA? Destroy the cities financially which are Democratic?

Get them out of power. We are all in danger since they want us destroyed and poor.

[JPZenger]

8. Minn. Governor May be McCain Vice president

This story has particular importance because Minnesota Governor Pawlenty is one of the leading candidates to be VP. He is particularly vulnerable for this issue because of his refusal to support additional funding for road improvements in the State. Also, there seemed to be some deceit in the first few days after the collapse.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Pawlenty

[bluesmail]

9. maybe not, with all this negative exposure.

[mac2]

22. Thanks for that information.

VP Cheney has made sure the crooks control the gates and information. Just your governor moving around to be a RWer is suspect.

When they said Pigeon poop ate away at the bridge I had to send an e-mail of disbelief to the Governor. We drove across that bridge a couple years ago on a visit to the area.

I hope Norm Coleman (R-MN)will be replaced in this election cycle. Wellstone's death/accident was so "timely" for him.

I owe the people of MN. If it hadn't been for the health research and trust they put in Sister Kenny, my Polio would have left me with permanent paralysis. That knowledge was picked up in my state of NY by our county hospital which had university affiliation.

http://www.allina.com/ahs/ski.nsf/ Glad they named a health institution for her.

http://www.allina.com/ahs/ski.nsf/page/history History of Sister Kenny's fight against Polio. A real hero.

[defendandprotect]

10. Just the GOP "third world America" . . . . they've been a long time working for it . . .

[mac2]

16. I guess they don't think someday they might lose a family

member or their own lives when they ignore our infrastructure problems. They don't all own islands after they retire.

[QUALAR]

12. Is Bush's Justice Department Blocking Investigation

I read that the current Lt Governor was in charge of the highway department and may have overruled engineers' concerns and recommendations concerning the collapsed bridge. If this is true, she belongs in prison. Does anyone know her background?

[SomeGuyInEagan]

13. No longer in charge of MnDOT ...

... Lt. Governor Carol Molnau was removed as Minnesota's Transportation Commissioner in February by the state senate on a party-line vote (44-22).

In early 2000, as a member of the state house, she authored a bill that sped up long-delayed construction of the highway 212 project in the southwestern Twin Cities. However - according to an article in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune just days before the state senate removed her as Transportation Commish - in guiding the bill through committee, she did not disclose that highway's proximity to her own property or that she was already negotiating with a national developer. Eight days after the bill passed, she sold 40 acres for about six times market value. She claimed there was no conflict of interest.
source: http://www.startribune.com/local/west/15909507.html

There was speculation that Timmy the Tool would drop her from his ticket for the 2006 race after he had started to change his mind about light rail in the state (as a legislator, he fought the light rail project, but it's success far exceeded predictions and he had to admit that it works). It was embarrassing to him that his own Lt. Gov/Transportation Commish was publicly decrying light rail in the state. They nearly lost the '06 election - few state Republicans came out of the "night of short knives" so lucky (City Pages at http://articles.citypages.com/2006-11-15/news/night-of-the-short-knives/)

And, she's a real arm twister: http://www.chaskaherald.com/node/3421

[mac2]

15. Like the levees in New Orleans right?

The level three storm would not have broken the levees. Bombs added did and flooded the city. The storm missing them mostly.

Bush was negligent not to do repairs and even allowed them to fail. His agency heads..."good job..". They claim they take an oath to the President. That is treasonous since we pay them.

[mac2]

17. Surprise, surprise, surprise....

[crim son]

18. Hey, we've got a war, or two, or three, to fund!

We can't waste money on infrastructure maintenance.

[mac2]

20. When people laughed about the Pigeon poop they came

up with another answer? Bush was quick to say he'd repair and pay for it (with our tax dollars which are always there for his taking without Congressional approval or over sight) it wasn't he?

He closed off the area like all the other "disasters" since he stole power. He refuses to investigate them properly.

[AngryAmish]

23. Thermite?

[Heywood J]

24. Causing the bends?

Thermite leaves a rather visible trail when it burns through something, especially something painted and coated with exhaust fumes, etc. like a bridge. Given the other bridge designed by the same person is doing the same thing, it's easier to believe that it's bad design or exceeding design loads.