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August 2, 2007

:: I-35W Bridge Collapse

35wbridge_before.jpg35wbridge_after.jpg

By now you are very much aware of the tragedy that has occurred in the City of Lakes. In fact, you very well may have arrived here in the quest for new or varied information regarding the I-35W Bridge Collapse.

I will first off disclaim this blog entry and website as a source of "official" information. I will say that I have seen and read similar postings, including the Wikipedia entry, and much information on the internet is being published by people who clearly are not local and familiar with the area. Second, I do want to let my friends and family checking in out there that everyone in the Meggisi family is safe and sound.

The pictures above are courtesy of MnDot - they come from the traffic management website they produce. At left is a traffic camera shot from some time well before the incident yesterday (it is a "reference" picture that is posted to show the general vicinity and direction the camera has a view of). The vantage point is from the Washington Ave exit looking northbound across the river. The after picture was taken live at 8:59am this morning. Last night, this camera along with several others surrounding the bridge were turned off from public view.

If you haven't already heard the basic details, here is what everyone can summarize as the recovery effort continues this morning:

  • At roughly 1805 CDT last night (August 1st) the I-35W bridge (the entire bridge, 8 lanes) over the Mississippi River in downtown Minneapolis, adjacent to the campus of the University of Minnesota, collapsed.

  • No official determination of cause has been made. Local, State, and Federal Agencies, including the DHS, has stated that they are relatively certain that foul play and/or terrorist action was NOT the cause of the collapse

  • Road construction was underway on the bridge, but the work was to correct potholes in the concrete road deck and make minor repairs to guardrails and lighting. The operation was a common mill-and-overlay project, and workers were preparing to lay new concrete in milled sections on the outside (nearest the guardrail) lanes.The work being performed by workers did not affect any supporting structure of the bridge, and is not being blamed as a catalyst for the collapse.

  • Eyewitnesses, including survivors who "rode the bridge down" said that it was "typical bumper-to-bumper rush hour and construction traffic". As a result, several vehicles did plunge into the river, with some becoming trapped below bridge debris that collapsed on top of them.
  • As of 9am on 8/2, the death toll was officially at 4 souls, with Minneapolis Police saying they fear that the toll could climb into the 30's.

  • The flow of the Mississippi River, already low from the drought being experienced in the area, has been restricted even more by closing off the Upper and Lower St. Anthony Falls Locks and Dams located just north of the bridge site.

  • Divers worked until dusk last night, and began working again at daybreak today on rescue and recovery.

    • A delegation of officials, including Senators and Congressmen who represent Minnesota, the head of the National Transportation Safety Board, and the Secretary of Transportation has arrived on-scene this morning, and will be holding a press conference this morning. If more pertinent information -- including any news or info that is not covered -- I will post it here as I am able. Please keep the residents of the Twin Cities, especially those affected directly by this tragedy, in your thoughts and prayers.

    Posted by pierre at August 2, 2007 9:02 AM

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