35 W Bridge in downtown Minneapolis collapses!

[Sassy]

Unreal...time to check on my friends in the twin cities...:(

[Sassy]

http://www.startribune.com/462/story/1338294.html


http://media.startribune.com/smedia/2007/08/01/19/248-03bridge080207.doublewide.prod_affiliate.2.jpg

[Bronco_Beerslug]

http://www.orangemane.com/BB/showthread.php?t=58949



http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/afp/20070802/capt.sge.hkl00.020807004450.photo01.photo.default-512x300.jpg?x=380&y=222&sig=SXJidgKdZE_9oCfAvw7sQg--

http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/nm/20070802/2007_08_01t204324_450x335_us_bridge_collapse.jpg?x =380&y=282&sig=b9AtCj76UqEiDDHkNPyudA--

http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070802/capt.8b0e5eac927a42a481292107cf21fa5f.bridge_colla pse_ny122.jpg?x=380&y=285&sig=cyqwbc9NkHp0tMuLc_hV_A--

http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070802/capt.138ece3d05fb4ed5aa99853868c20948.correction_b ridge_collapse_ny117.jpg?x=380&y=285&sig=kxikSmO2E4CSFQAXlFcUNQ--

http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070802/capt.b131c61bbcfd4b9e8d398278ab602a99.correction_b ridge_collapse_ny118.jpg?x=380&y=285&sig=VEsYHAvcz.eZuN.lgOSv2A--

http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070802/capt.037ae76feafe4315afa00c2a7790f03b.bridge_colla pse_ny121.jpg?x=380&y=278&sig=Dm3K_uMc.v6UnHz2Btd.TA--

http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070802/capt.abf0f151ae2141f888d7cb496b26e73f.bridge_colla pse_ny120.jpg?x=380&y=285&sig=JSneOTEeEVGEzpHw0Os0EA--

http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070801/capt.213a10964ddc483ab379188c3b5f3311.bridge_colla pse_ny116.jpg?x=380&y=285&sig=N7Q1ADt5MqDiTutIhpcugg--

[55CrushEm]

Holy crap !! Here's to hoping everyone involved makes it out alive.

:pray:

[Sassy]

Sorry...just got home and did a quick check...I must have missed it.

[Bronco_Beerslug]

Up to a hundred cars on the bridge when it went down they're saying. Getting dark now with storms moving into the area a spokesman said.

[Sassy]

I'm getting "all circuits are busy"...

[Inkana7]

I'm getting "all circuits are busy"...

Wow. I'll be praying.

[Sassy]

I have a really good friend along with her family, her parents, her sisters/their families (all were neightbors) , 4 other classmates and an ex there...

[DBroncos4life]

one of my friends won a trip there for work and is there now.

[ro_50]

They are reporting the kids got out of the bus safely -- if thats true, THANK GOD.

My hearts and prayers go out to those involved. T-Wolves owner Glenn Taylor cancelled his press conferece slated for tonight that was to introduce the new players they got in the KG trade. Reports said Taylor was visibly shaken and his granddaughter was said to be in the area and he said she's ok.

This reminds me of the 1989 Bay bridge collaspe. Just sad and tragic.

[footstepsfrom#27]

Wow...this looks bad. I had the same thought about the SF earthquake causing overpasses to collapse. 100 cars going down would be some catastrophic loss of life.

**edit: well it says 20-50 cars involved so hopefully that's true.

[DBroncos4life]

no answer when I called her.

[Sassy]

It actually rang? I'm getting all circuits are busy.

[DBroncos4life]

It actually rang? I'm getting all circuits are busy.

Yeah it rang a few times and went to her voicemail. Maybe because its a Billings number. I don't know its pretty messed up. I know very little about minneapolis so I don't know if she would be on that bridge or anything.

[DBroncos4life]

My roomate is on the phone with her aunt who lives there. She said the service isn't that great though.

[ro_50]

one of my friends won a trip there for work and is there now.

Hope your friend is ok.

[gunns]

My son's girlfriend lives in the area. He just keeps saying she's at work. He's tried to get through but he's getting all circuits busy. I sure hope people are ok and that others can get to them.

[DBroncos4life]

My roomate said that they where doing work to the bridge, like top coating the pavement. Her uncle works right by there, but didn't drive home that way because of the work being done to the bride. He got lucky.

[DBroncos4life]

Hope your friend is ok.

She just texted me and told me she was ok. Thank god.

[Sassy]

My friend...and her family (husband, kids, sisters/families, parents) are fine too...Don't know about anyone else I know there yet though. I only talked to her a few minutes...didn't want to tie up any more phone lines.

[DBroncos4life]

My friend...and her family (husband, kids, sisters/families, parents) are fine too...Don't know about anyone else I know there yet though. I only talked to her a few minutes...didn't want to tie up any more phone lines.

Yeah her uncle has 50 calls from people cause thats the way he travels to work so I bet it hard to get ahold of people right now.

[ro_50]

She just texted me and told me she was ok. Thank god.


Good to know. I hope other people will get good news like you did. GOD BLESS THOSE IMPACTED BY THIS.

[DBroncos4life]

Good to know. I hope other people will get good news like you did. GOD BLESS THOSE IMPACTED BY THIS.

Thanks and I agree with you 100%

[smalltowngrll]

They are asking everyone to stay off of their cell phones in the area. Probably a good thing to wait on checking on others in the area. Those circuits need to be used for those that are in need.

[Sassy]

At least right now they don't think it's an act of terrorism.

[Jana®]

They are reporting the kids got out of the bus safely -- if thats true, THANK GOD.

My hearts and prayers go out to those involved. T-Wolves owner Glenn Taylor cancelled his press conferece slated for tonight that was to introduce the new players they got in the KG trade. Reports said Taylor was visibly shaken and his granddaughter was said to be in the area and he said she's ok.

This reminds me of the 1989 Bay bridge collaspe. Just sad and tragic.

My friend reminded me about the Bay Bridge collapse when we were watching this earlier. What a heartbreaking situation this is.. they are all in my thoughts and prayers.

[smalltowngrll]

The only difference is the Bay bridge collapsed because of an earthquake. This is just wierd! Very sad.

[Requiem]

I have a **** load of friends and even my brother is near there. **** **** mother****. I gotta make like 30 calls right now.

[Sassy]

Thoughts and prayers that everyone is alright, Requiem.

[Sassy]

58 injured so far...6 reported dead.

[coachmastermind]

On CNN Right now they just said with breaking news that the US Coast Guard says that almost 50 cars are in the water.

[footstepsfrom#27]

At least right now they don't think it's an act of terrorism.
Are you assuming they'd tell us if it was? I'm assuming they wouldn't.

[OrangeShadow]

holy ****

[Jana®]

I highly doubt it was an act of terrorism. IMO, the work on the top of the bridge had something to do with the collapse.. but I'm not an expert.

[Garcia Bronco]

My friend here in Denver inspects bridges for most of Colorado. I'll ask him about this. His job is to basically keep this from happening.

[smalltowngrll]

They just had a structural engineer from the erea on CNN and he was saying the colapse looks rather odd. He said that it looked odd that two seperate areas of the bridge collapsed at the same time rather than one portion buckeling.

[Sassy]

Are you assuming they'd tell us if it was? I'm assuming they wouldn't.

Well, what they did say was there were no explosions...but they also said the bridge was checked in 2005 and 2006 and they thought the structure/supports were fine...weird.

[smalltowngrll]

Wow...the guy they are interviewing now that was a victim said he saw a tanker in front of him go down. That's crazy.

[Sassy]

They just had a structural engineer from the erea on CNN and he was saying the colapse looks rather odd. He said that it looked odd that two seperate areas of the bridge collapsed at the same time rather than one portion buckeling.

I haven't heard that yet...I have Kare11 news out of Minneapolis coming in on my local 11 channel.

[smalltowngrll]

I highly doubt it was an act of terrorism. IMO, the work on the top of the bridge had something to do with the collapse.. but I'm not an expert.

They were only doing repaving and replacing guardrails. They weren't doing anything to the major structure of the bridge. It's just odd. Especially if only two to four lanes were open when this bridge has a total of 8 lanes. Even if it was bumper to bumper traffic, the weight coudn't be more than what it's been with 8 lanes of traffic. Just my thoughts, though. I'm certainly no expert, though.

[Garcia Bronco]

From my friend:

There was contractor on the bridge working when it fell. Judging by the way it fell they were working on the joints or the joints failed. Somebody could have cut some steel they weren't supposed to. Basically one of the spans fallling made the others fall.

[Garcia Bronco]

They were only doing repaving and replacing guardrails. They weren't doing anything to the major structure of the bridge. It's just odd. Especially if only two to four lanes were open when this bridge has a total of 8 lanes. Even if it was bumper to bumper traffic, the weight coudn't be more than what it's been with 8 lanes of traffic. Just my thoughts, though. I'm certainly no expert, though.

They could have accidentially cut a few joints replacing guardrails and repaving

[Los Broncos]

Thats to bad, i really hope your friends are ok.

[smalltowngrll]

They could have accidentially cut a few joints replacing guardrails and repaving

That would be just horrible. Could you imagine if you were the construction workers that might have done that? It would be difficult to live the rest of your life knowing you caused such a terrible tragedy!

[Sassy]

One of the construction workers is still missing...

[Los Broncos]

Prayers go out to the families.

[DBroncos4life]

I highly doubt it was an act of terrorism. IMO, the work on the top of the bridge had something to do with the collapse.. but I'm not an expert.

It wasn't structule work though. From what I was told it just snapped in the middle and the people working on it got tossed in the river. Thats coming from people that live there.

[bronco militia]

I don't see how a re-paving project would have anything to do with the structural part of the bridge.

anyway, here is a security cam video of the collapse:

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=1ab_1186054443&p=1

[Crushaholic]

I don't see how a re-paving project would have anything to do with the structural part of the bridge.

anyway, here is a security cam video of the collapse:

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=1ab_1186054443&p=1

Oh, wow... I can't imagine what those people were thinking as they were plunging towards the river. My prayers go out to everyone affected by this incident.

[Bronco_Beerslug]

Looks like 20-30 people still missing. This bridge was rated as "structurally deficient" two years ago. I know the Federal Highway Administration rated 30% of all bridges in the U.S. either structurally deficient or functionally obsolete a couple years ago too.

-----------------------------------------------------------
Hopes dim in Minneapolis for survivors (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070802/ap_on_re_us/bridge_collapse_21;_ylt=AtScMzulgymWOkHukgPH3e4E1v AI)
By JON KRAWCZYNSKI, Associated Press Writers

MINNEAPOLIS - Divers searched the Mississippi River for bodies Thursday among the submerged cars and twisted steel left by a deadly interstate bridge collapse, their hopes of finding survivors having dimmed.

http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20070802/i/r2733161803.jpg?x=380&y=265&sig=Wy7LlvZrmVQbV_TzGPh1UQ--
Vehicles rest on a collapsed section of the I-35 bridge in Minneapolis, Minnesota August 2, 2007. Rescuers searched on Thursday for 20 people missing in a U.S. bridge collapse that sent vehicles tumbling several stories into the Mississippi River in an avalanche of concrete and steel that killed at least four, authorities said. REUTERS/Joshua Lott (UNITED STATES)


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"This is not a rescue operation any longer," said Chief Jim Clack of the Minneapolis Fire Department. "It's a recovery operation, which means we move slower and more deliberately."

Authorities early Thursday lowered the death toll to four, but warned the final number could change as divers comb the wreckage for as many as 30 people still missing.

Police Lt. Amelia Huffman said: "This morning, the medical examiner's office only has four sets of remains." Initial reports of seven people killed were based on the best estimates authorities had Wednesday night, she said.

The eight-lane Interstate 35W bridge, a major Minneapolis artery, was in the midst of being repaired when the bridge buckled during evening rush hour Wednesday, sending dozens of cars plummeting more than 60 feet into the Mississippi River.

More than 60 people were injured and as many as 50 vehicles were in the river, many of their occupants having scrambled to shore. The collapse did not appear to be terrorism-related.

Even so, Hennepin County Sheriff Richard Stanek said law enforcement agents would treat the area as a crime scene until a cause for the collapse was determined. "We're not ruling anything in, we're not ruling anything out," he said.

Authorities were checking license numbers of the cars in the water. Getting the vehicles out will involve moving around very large, heavy pieces of bridge.

"The bridge is still shifting," said Minneapolis Police Chief Tim Dolan. "We're dealing with the Mississippi River. We're dealing with currents. We're going to have to do it slowly and safely."

Relatives of some of the missing gathered in a hotel ballroom early Thursday, waiting for word on loved ones who couldn't be located.

"I've never wanted to see my brother so much in my life," said Kristi Foster, who went to an information center set up at a Holiday Inn looking for her brother Kirk. She hadn't had contact with her brother or his girlfriend, Krystle Webb, since the previous night.

Mayor R.T. Rybak said he expects the death toll to fluctuate throughout the day. "I think you can expect that to be a dynamic situation for a while," he said.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty said the bridge was inspected by the Minnesota Department of Transportation in 2005 and 2006 and that no immediate structural problems were noted. "There were some minor things that needed attention," he said.

"They notified us from an engineering standpoint the deck might need to be rehabilitated or replaced in 2020 or beyond," Pawlenty said Wednesday.

The 40-year-old bridge was rated as "structurally deficient" two years ago and possibly in need of replacement, the Star Tribune reported. The newspaper said that rating was contained in the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Bridge Inventory database.
CONT>

[TailgateNut]

From my friend:

There was contractor on the bridge working when it fell. Judging by the way it fell they were working on the joints or the joints failed. Somebody could have cut some steel they weren't supposed to. Basically one of the spans fallling made the others fall.


There's is no reason to "cut" any joints with the exception of Control/Expansion/Contraction Joints if they were just re-paving (these will no affect the structural integrity of the bridge). They also wouldn't be cuting any supporting structure steel if it was a simple repaving project.
If it was a structural repair project, no engineer in his right mind would allow traffic on the span while structural members were being replaced.

Just my 5 cents.

Also, I saw a comment about previous inspection results. I did heasr last night that previous recommendation suggested a need for replacement.

[Crushaholic]

Topeka is currently replacing a major bridge over the Kansas River. The initial feeling was to just keep trucks off the 80-year-old bridge. Finally, the decision was made to replace it. We're currently halfway finished with the 2 year project. I can't help but think that this kind of accident could happen here with that bridge if it had been allowed to stay up.

[TailgateNut]

They could have accidentially cut a few joints replacing guardrails and repaving


Nyet! Not likely!

[Garcia Bronco]

It's really the only way the bridge could have fallen like that according to my expert. :) The joints had to have been damaged some how by the construction crew.

[Bronco_Beerslug]

It's really the only way the bridge could have fallen like that according to my expert. :) The joints had to have been damaged some how by the construction crew.


The "joints"? The construction was for surface paving. Cutting or damaging a guardrail isn't going to bring down a bridge.

The bridge was rated structurally deficient two years ago.

[TailgateNut]

It's really the only way the bridge could have fallen like that according to my expert. :) The joints had to have been damaged some how by the construction crew.


...and who does he work for??? The expansion/ contration joints serve no structural purpose what-so-ever.

It being a 40-50 yr structural steel bridge suggest a girder construction with diagonal and lateral cross-bracing supported on pier bearing plates with anchor bolts.

I CANNOT SEE the contractor cutting the bracing to overlay the decking, nor would they be anywhere near the bearing areas.

I have re-habbed a few old bridges, and without further info, I would guess it has to do with steel/ bolt failures most likely caused by deterioration/ lack of proper maintenance, or a pier failure.

Just a guess!

Need more info!

Just looked at the video Militia posted. It suggests a steel failure as I mentioned. Either due to overloading or deterioration.

My 5 Cents!

[TailgateNut]

My friend here in Denver inspects bridges for most of Colorado. I'll ask him about this. His job is to basically keep this from happening.


Does he work for CDOT? If Yes, I might know him! I've done several projects with CDOT. They are a pain in the ass, but the money is good!

[Florida_Bronco]

The "joints"? The construction was for surface paving. Cutting or damaging a guardrail isn't going to bring down a bridge.

The bridge was rated structurally deficient two years ago.

Where did you hear that? Last night CNN kept saying that they only found cosmetic problems with the inspections.

[TailgateNut]

Where did you hear that? Last night CNN kept saying that they only found cosmetic problems with the inspections.


I heard the same comment on one of the news stations late last night. It's another one of those "save a buck" projects we see in this industry. Most of the inspectors who work for the state do visual inspections which do not reveal the "actual" integrity of the structural steel/ reinforcing steel/ bolts and structural concrete.
Add the vibrations and point loads from construction equipment (loaders, pavers, compactors and asphalt trailers) to the regular traffic loads and voila!

[Bronco_Beerslug]

Where did you hear that? Last night CNN kept saying that they only found cosmetic problems with the inspections.I posted the story (http://tinyurl.com/35smko) earlier in the thread.

The 40-year-old bridge was rated as "structurally deficient" two years ago and possibly in need of replacement, the Star Tribune reported. The newspaper said that rating was contained in the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Bridge Inventory database.

"We've seen it, and we are very familiar with it," Jeanne Aamodt, a spokeswoman for the Minnesota Department of Transportation, said of the 2005 assessment of the bridge.

[Florida_Bronco]

I heard the same comment on one of the news stations late last night. It's another one of those "save a buck" projects we see in this industry. Most of the inspectors who work for the state do visual inspections which do not reveal the "actual" integrity of the structural steel/ reinforcing steel/ bolts and structural concrete.
Add the vibrations and point loads from construction equipment (loaders, pavers, compactors and asphalt trailers) to the regular traffic loads and voila!

Ahh, well thats a whole different scenario then, thanks for clearing it up.

[TailgateNut]

Ahh, well thats a whole different scenario then, thanks for clearing it up.


Now, their DOT will spend millions trying to stick it to the contractor, in lieu of using that money to fix other aging/deteriorating bridges.
I hope the contractor has good attorneys and followed all of the construction specifications.

I've mentioned it before. Some of the engineers who are designing structures these days scare the **** out of me!

I just CMA. Document/ photos/ tests, etc....Spend the money to save headaches!

[Florida_Bronco]

Now, their DOT will spend millions trying to stick it to the contractor, in lieu of using that money to fix other aging/deteriorating bridges.
I hope the contractor has good attorneys and followed all of the construction specifications.

I've mentioned it before. Some of the engineers who are designing structures these days scare the **** out of me!

I just CMA. Document/ photos/ tests, etc....Spend the money to save headaches!

Yeah, I'm sure this is just the beginning of this sad little story here.

[TailgateNut]

It's really the only way the bridge could have fallen like that according to my expert. :) The joints had to have been damaged some how by the construction crew.


I hear Wal-Mart is hiring!

[Garcia Bronco]

Does he work for CDOT? If Yes, I might know him! I've done several projects with CDOT. They are a pain in the ass, but the money is good!

You have met him at the SD game last season

[Garcia Bronco]

...and who does he work for??? The expansion/ contration joints serve no structural purpose what-so-ever.

It being a 40-50 yr structural steel bridge suggest a girder construction with diagonal and lateral cross-bracing supported on pier bearing plates with anchor bolts.

I CANNOT SEE the contractor cutting the bracing to overlay the decking, nor would they be anywhere near the bearing areas.

I have re-habbed a few old bridges, and without further info, I would guess it has to do with steel/ bolt failures most likely caused by deterioration/ lack of proper maintenance, or a pier failure.

Just a guess!

Need more info!

Just looked at the video Militia posted. It suggests a steel failure as I mentioned. Either due to overloading or deterioration.

My 5 Cents!


The joints, while they do not support the load of weight, keep the spans together. If they were cut or jack hammer loose...it could cause an aging bridge to fall.

[Garcia Bronco]

We spend less than a tenth of a point on the GDP on roads in this country. china spends something like 9 percent.

[Bronco_Beerslug]

The joints, while they do not support the load of weight, keep the spans together. If they were cut or jack hammer loose...it could cause an aging bridge to fall.The connection points (expansion joints) rest on fixed structure so each section can contract and expand with different air temperatures. Looks like to me it was a structure support failure the way it came down. I'm just guessing though.

[TailgateNut]

The joints, while they do not support the load of weight, keep the spans together. If they were cut or jack hammer loose...it could cause an aging bridge to fall.


Being a steel structure, this bridge does'nt have diaphragms ( as with concrete girders) which bind the seperate girder sections, and the "connection points" would not be affected by a re-paving/ overlay operation!

[Garcia Bronco]

Being a steel structure, this bridge does'nt have diaphragms ( as with concrete girders) which bind the seperate girder sections, and the "connection points" would not be affected by a re-paving/ overlay operation!

What if a jack hammer cracked them apart?

[TailgateNut]

The joints, while they do not support the load of weight, keep the spans together. If they were cut or jack hammer loose...it could cause an aging bridge to fall.

The deck joints do not "keep the spans together". They in fact "keep them apart".

[Garcia Bronco]

The deck joints do not "keep the spans together". They in fact "keep them apart".

But if the span moved and there isn't a push back...then the span can fall

[TailgateNut]

What if a jack hammer cracked them apart?

I give up!

The connection plates which structurally support a bridge this size would'nt be affected by a jackhammer, unless it was a demolition hammer attached to a large trackhoe.
Again: this is not part of an overlay/ re-paving operation. They may have replace the expansion joints, which serve no structural SUPPORT purpose.
Although they serve a purpose, it has nothing to do with structural stability.

[OrangeShadow]

my tv hasnt changed from the news yet this morning. such a tragic event and some of the i witness photos are mind boggling

[TailgateNut]

But if the span moved and there isn't a push back...then the span can fall


Whaaaat???

[smalltowngrll]

Well, according to the report that Slug posted above, there are 100's of other bridges accross the country with the same rating that was given this bridge just a couple of years ago!

What I find interesting is that it passed inspections in 2005-2006, had major issues in 2001 and now this report (there is no link in the article to the report that is being cited). Why should a bridge pass some inpsections and fail others? At what point do you say that a bridge is not safe and close it? Is it all just political (like most everything else as of late)? These are more rethorical questions rather than ones that can truly be answered.

It's just sad that people have to lose their lives in order for change to take place!


I found it interesting this morning while watching the Today show. They were talking about other bridge tragedies and one that was mentioned was the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Tampa. On the cruise we went under that bridge and noted a great job that they did in preventing future errors in boats and barges from hitting the bridge. They built these VERY large concrete barriers around each of the bridge supports. Funny thing, though...the ship only clears the top of the bridge by about 2-3 feet. Here's a picture of it...

http://www.geocities.com/smalltowngrll/CruiseDay1Skyway2.jpg

Picture of the newly built bridge...notice the large concrete barriers around each of the bridge supports:

http://www.geocities.com/smalltowngrll/CruiseDay1Skyway1.jpg

[TailgateNut]

Well, according to the report that Slug posted above, there are 100's of other bridges accross the country with the same rating that was given this bridge just a couple of years ago!

What I find interesting is that it passed inspections in 2005-2006, had major issues in 2001 and now this report (there is no link in the article to the report that is being cited). Why should a bridge pass some inpsections and fail others? At what point do you say that a bridge is not safe and close it? Is it all just political (like most everything else as of late)? These are more rethorical questions rather than ones that can truly be answered.

It's just sad that people have to lose their lives in order for change to take place!


I found it interesting this morning while watching the Today show. They were talking about other bridge tragedies and one that was mentioned was the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Tampa. On the cruise we went under that bridge and noted a great job that they did in preventing future errors in boats and barges from hitting the bridge. They built these VERY large concrete barriers around each of the bridge supports. Funny thing, though...the ship only clears the top of the bridge by about 2-3 feet. Here's a picture of it...

http://www.geocities.com/smalltowngrll/CruiseDay1Skyway2.jpg

Picture of the newly built bridge...notice the large concrete barriers around each of the bridge supports:

http://www.geocities.com/smalltowngrll/CruiseDay1Skyway1.jpg



Ya gotta love the "epoxy patching job" on the soffit of the girders shown in that photo!:spit:


The PT anchorage points look good!

[TailgateNut]

Here ya go Garcia:

"The bridge's deck truss system has not experienced fatigue cracking, but it has many poor fatigue details on the main truss and the floor truss system," said a report conducted for the Minnesota Department of Transportation in 2001.

Trusses are support mechanisms, and floor trusses often act as the "primary load-carrying members in a bridge superstructure," according to the American Society of Civil Engineers.

The executive summary of the report -- undertaken by the University of Minnesota's Department of Civil Engineering -- also points to fatigue problems with the bridge's approach span, the segments that connect the main span of the bridge to land. It attributed the fatigue problems primarily to "unanticipated out-of-plane distortions in the girders."

[Sassy]

Update: They say only 8 are unaccounted for....60 cars still in the water, but it sounds like most of them got out. 5 deaths so far....terrible conditions for the diving teams that are going out. THe bridge is still unstable and debree all over...they closed gates so the water is only about 7 feet deep but with the current and stuff in the water, it's very dangerous to search for bodies. :(

[TailgateNut]

I've mentioned it before. Some of the engineers who are designing structures these days scare the **** out of me!

I just CMA. Document/ photos/ tests, etc....Spend the money to save headaches!

Looks like my assertion that engineers scare the hell out of me ended up being a shot in the right direction.

An article in todays paper revealed that the culprit was/were the gusset plates which were not designed properly.

As I stated immediately after the disaster, it was in fact a steel/ structural failure which caused it to crumble!

Garcia, tell "your expert" the cuts in the guardrail didn't make it fall.ROFL!

[Gcver2ver3]

Looks like my assertion that engineers scare the hell out of me ended up being a shot in the right direction.

An article in todays paper revealed that the culprit was/were the gusset plates which were not designed properly.

As I stated immediately after the disaster, it was in fact a steel/ structural failure which caused it to crumble!

Garcia, tell "your expert" the cuts in the guardrail didn't make it fall.ROFL!

well that settles it then

[TailgateNut]

well that settles it then

Not really! This same engineer has most likely designed more structures which are most likely being used/ lived in by living and breathing human beings. He and his firm need to be investigated and his license needs to be revoked until further notice. Then, let the lawsuits begin!

I get so sick of arguing with clueless engineers on a daily basis. They think because the have a cute diploma on the wall, that they are gods gift to construction.
I would guess that of the engineering firms I deal with 25%-35% of them use jr engineers during the design with a final (quick) review and sign-off by a senior engineer. Most of them cost the end user $$$thousands , if not $$$millions because of their lack of knowledge.

Just this morning I spend several valuable hours of my time showing the RE on one of my projects how they had screwed up the design of the Cathodic Protection System. After a hundred no's, he finally "saw the light"!

[Broncoman13]

Not really! This same engineer has most likely designed more structures which are most likely being used/ lived in by living and breathing human beings. He and his firm need to be investigated and his license needs to be revoked until further notice. Then, let the lawsuits begin!

I get so sick of arguing with clueless engineers on a daily basis. They think because the have a cute diploma on the wall, that they are gods gift to construction.
I would guess that of the engineering firms I deal with 25%-35% of them use jr engineers during the design with a final (quick) review and sign-off by a senior engineer. Most of them cost the end user $$$thousands , if not $$$millions because of their lack of knowledge.

Just this morning I spend several valuable hours of my time showing the RE on one of my projects how they had screwed up the design of the Cathodic Protection System. After a hundred no's, he finally "saw the light"!

Engineers always feel like they're god's gift to mankind. I work with about a dozen engineers. Some are actually common sense smart (which is rare if you haven't worked w/many engineers) and are rather pleasurable to converse with. Some are stubborn and will fit their opinion into anything and most of the time their opinion is 'the square peg'.

[theAPAOps5]

Not really! This same engineer has most likely designed more structures which are most likely being used/ lived in by living and breathing human beings. He and his firm need to be investigated and his license needs to be revoked until further notice. Then, let the lawsuits begin!

I get so sick of arguing with clueless engineers on a daily basis. They think because the have a cute diploma on the wall, that they are gods gift to construction.
I would guess that of the engineering firms I deal with 25%-35% of them use jr engineers during the design with a final (quick) review and sign-off by a senior engineer. Most of them cost the end user $$$thousands , if not $$$millions because of their lack of knowledge.

Just this morning I spend several valuable hours of my time showing the RE on one of my projects how they had screwed up the design of the Cathodic Protection System. After a hundred no's, he finally "saw the light"!

Oh yeah I know what you are saying. Whenever engineers design the projects on my airfield its the Jr doing the design and the head guy signing off on it. I can't tell you how many times they have had to redesign or fix something because of the "design" process. Its ok to have the Jr. do it but check their work.

[Los Broncos]

I hope everyone is ok, looks scary.

[Bronco_Beerslug]

I hope everyone is ok, looks scary.Huh?

[broncocalijohn]

Huh?

I guess lynch hanging out in the NPN too much didnt realize this happened 5 months ago.

[Los Broncos]

Huh?

I'm a little lost in the head.

[alkemical]

hehehe, it's ok - i've been there

[TailgateNut]

Oh yeah I know what you are saying. Whenever engineers design the projects on my airfield its the Jr doing the design and the head guy signing off on it. I can't tell you how many times they have had to redesign or fix something because of the "design" process. Its ok to have the Jr. do it but check their work.


What I generally encounter is either the "newby" engineer overdesigns the structures, and the end user/owner has to absorb the increased costs, or they cut and paste outdated details which have been used by their firm for decades.

I believe the educational system we have in place in extremely flamed to reward these young men and women with degrees. If we do not make substantial changes in the near future we will have to rely on design firms staffed by foreign engineers. My experience with a high percentage of them has been nothing but positive.

Sad for the good ol USA!

[TailgateNut]

Update.

As per my previous assertions the failure appears to have been caused by both structural design flaws (steel failure) and excess weight from construction equipment and mtls. with created excessive point-loads at the gusset plate locations.




MINNEAPOLIS — More than 191 tons of construction material was piled over the weakest areas of the Interstate 35W bridge shortly before the span collapsed into the Mississippi River, federal investigators said.

The piles of rock and sand, to be used in resurfacing the bridge, were placed over steel gusset plates, connectors joining bridge beams, that were thinner than they should have been, the National Transportation Safety Board said in an update on its investigation Monday.

The Aug. 1 collapse near downtown Minneapolis killed 13 people and injured 145. The NTSB said it expects to produce its final report on the cause of the collapse by the end of the year.

The NTSB had previously cited the too-thin gusset plates and construction project weights as factors in the collapse, but Monday's update included drawings and tables that pinpointed the locations of those heavy loads on the structure.

[CBF1]

We are all going to die horrific deaths arn't we :spit:

[Beantown Bronco]

MINNEAPOLIS — More than 191 tons, otherwise known as Bob's fat @ss, was piled over the weakest areas of the Interstate 35W bridge shortly before the span collapsed into the Mississippi River, federal investigators said.

The pile of sh*t was placed over steel gusset plates, connectors joining bridge beams, that were thinner than they should have been, the National Transportation Safety Board said in an update on its investigation Monday.

The Aug. 1 collapse near downtown Minneapolis killed 13 people and injured 145. The NTSB said it expects to produce its final report on the cause of the collapse by the end of the year.

The NTSB had previously cited the too-thin gusset plates and construction project weights as factors in the collapse, but Monday's update included drawings and tables that pinpointed the locations of that heavy load on the structure.

Fixed it for you.