Comments on: 35W Bridge Collapse http://minneapolis.metblogs.com/2007/08/01/35w-bridge-collapse/ Wed, 25 Nov 2009 06:27:09 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Kim http://minneapolis.metblogs.com/2007/08/01/35w-bridge-collapse/comment-page-2/#comment-3786 Kim Wed, 22 Aug 2007 07:13:44 +0000 http://minneapolis.metblogs.com/2007/08/01/35w-bridge-collapse/#comment-3786 You know, it seems human nature to always want come up with one person or thing to blame when something happens. I don't care who is at fault. I don't even care why it fell. No matter what answers we get, it doesn't change that it happened. Just look at it this way, it could have been worse. We are lucky not all of the lanes were open with normal rush hour and Twins traffic. I work with the Ramsey County Dive Team and arrived down there with in an hour of it falling. As I arrived under the 10th street bridge, I couldn't say anything. I didn't know what to say. All I could think of was to take some pictures because I will never see this again. Silly isn't it? I mean when you think about it. People just died, but I thought to take pictures... The next day as we were diving on it, it was quiet aside from things settling on the parts of the bridge that were still in the air. No one really talked. I took some more pictures in between dives. It took until a couple days ago for me to let other people look at them. It didn't feel right. I just had to question why I took the picutres or why to show them. I guess human nature wants to help remember and see things. My dad also works for MNDOT and took me to see things from on the 10th street bridge. I understand why it's closed. You just want to look when you are up there. I hope they don't open it until the channel is clear. Otherwise there will be accidents. That's the weird thing about this. You just want to look, you don't know why, but you want to look. I guess all I can say is that I am sorry for those who lost someone they loved. For those who made it off, I am glad that (if you call it luck or god) something helped you make it home to your loved ones. I hope that maybe when you realize that you made it home safe to your loved ones, that it gives you a warm feeling everynight and makes you appreciate small things a little more. You know, it seems human nature to always want come up with one person or thing to blame when something happens. I don’t care who is at fault. I don’t even care why it fell. No matter what answers we get, it doesn’t change that it happened. Just look at it this way, it could have been worse. We are lucky not all of the lanes were open with normal rush hour and Twins traffic. I work with the Ramsey County Dive Team and arrived down there with in an hour of it falling. As I arrived under the 10th street bridge, I couldn’t say anything. I didn’t know what to say. All I could think of was to take some pictures because I will never see this again. Silly isn’t it? I mean when you think about it. People just died, but I thought to take pictures… The next day as we were diving on it, it was quiet aside from things settling on the parts of the bridge that were still in the air. No one really talked. I took some more pictures in between dives. It took until a couple days ago for me to let other people look at them. It didn’t feel right. I just had to question why I took the picutres or why to show them. I guess human nature wants to help remember and see things. My dad also works for MNDOT and took me to see things from on the 10th street bridge. I understand why it’s closed. You just want to look when you are up there. I hope they don’t open it until the channel is clear. Otherwise there will be accidents. That’s the weird thing about this. You just want to look, you don’t know why, but you want to look.
I guess all I can say is that I am sorry for those who lost someone they loved. For those who made it off, I am glad that (if you call it luck or god) something helped you make it home to your loved ones. I hope that maybe when you realize that you made it home safe to your loved ones, that it gives you a warm feeling everynight and makes you appreciate small things a little more.

]]> By: R Staub http://minneapolis.metblogs.com/2007/08/01/35w-bridge-collapse/comment-page-2/#comment-3785 R Staub Wed, 15 Aug 2007 20:30:42 +0000 http://minneapolis.metblogs.com/2007/08/01/35w-bridge-collapse/#comment-3785 A a retired civil engineer having been involved in many highway projects, I have been studying the myriad of photos that haave been taken of the collapse. These photos, along with the video of the collapse taken from the south end looking north, have made me believe that the collapse began on the south end when the connection between the concrete column and the steel superstructure gave way. This collapse caused the structure to fall off to the east side. When this happened, the connection to the south separated causing that section to fall. At this same time, the video shows that the main structure fell into the river starting at the south. This broke the connection at the pier just north of the river. When that connection broke, the next section nort collapsed directly over the next pier. When that happened it broke the next connection and that section fell onto the railroad. All of the shifting then caused the next northerly southbound section fell. Don't know if all that makes sense, but when I copied a section of the original plan off the MNDOT site and marked it up with the failed sections, it makes perfect sense to me.+ A a retired civil engineer having been involved in many highway projects, I have been studying the myriad of photos that haave been taken of the collapse. These photos, along with the video of the collapse taken from the south end looking north, have made me believe that the collapse began on the south end when the connection between the concrete column and the steel superstructure gave way. This collapse caused the structure to fall off to the east side.

When this happened, the connection to the south separated causing that section to fall. At this same time, the video shows that the main structure fell into the river starting at the south. This broke the connection at the pier just north of the river. When that connection broke, the next section nort collapsed directly over the next pier. When that happened it broke the next connection and that section fell onto the railroad. All of the shifting then caused the next northerly southbound section fell.

Don’t know if all that makes sense, but when I copied a section of the original plan off the MNDOT site and marked it up with the failed sections, it makes perfect sense to me.+

]]> By: Erica M http://minneapolis.metblogs.com/2007/08/01/35w-bridge-collapse/comment-page-2/#comment-3784 Erica M Mon, 13 Aug 2007 17:39:27 +0000 http://minneapolis.metblogs.com/2007/08/01/35w-bridge-collapse/#comment-3784 <em>SO LONG AND THANKS FOR ALL THE FISH</em> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/So_Long,_and_Thanks_for_All_the_Fish" rel="nofollow">It's the 4th book in the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series.</a> No idea why it's there, though. SO LONG AND THANKS FOR ALL THE FISH

It’s the 4th book in the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy series. No idea why it’s there, though.

]]> By: Kyra Ann Parker Nelson http://minneapolis.metblogs.com/2007/08/01/35w-bridge-collapse/comment-page-2/#comment-3783 Kyra Ann Parker Nelson Mon, 13 Aug 2007 16:13:11 +0000 http://minneapolis.metblogs.com/2007/08/01/35w-bridge-collapse/#comment-3783 Does anyone else notice the fine print to the right of the white column for comments? In the gray column and at the bottom so you can see it while typing in this screen: "SO LONG AND THANKS FOR ALL THE FISH." ??? Annie Does anyone else notice the fine print to the right of the white column for comments? In the gray column and at the bottom so you can see it while typing in this screen: “SO LONG AND THANKS FOR ALL THE FISH.”

???
Annie

]]> By: Kyra Ann Parker Nelson http://minneapolis.metblogs.com/2007/08/01/35w-bridge-collapse/comment-page-2/#comment-3782 Kyra Ann Parker Nelson Mon, 13 Aug 2007 16:09:34 +0000 http://minneapolis.metblogs.com/2007/08/01/35w-bridge-collapse/#comment-3782 Mean people to build something defective and expect other taxpayers to fix it. Sort of like the tunnel piece collapsing in Boston 2006, and, levees collapsing in NOLA in September 2005, during Hurricane Katrina (lack of proper maintenance since 1970s). Must be the meanest people. Unless there is some cement molecular disturber Batman does not know about. Or, those ground shocks from some inner USA foot army/cult got ahead of maintenance projected costs. Annie Mean people to build something defective and expect other taxpayers to fix it. Sort of like the tunnel piece collapsing in Boston 2006, and, levees collapsing in NOLA in September 2005, during Hurricane Katrina (lack of proper maintenance since 1970s). Must be the meanest people.

Unless there is some cement molecular disturber Batman does not know about. Or, those ground shocks from some inner USA foot army/cult got ahead of maintenance projected costs.

Annie

]]> By: Chen's World http://minneapolis.metblogs.com/2007/08/01/35w-bridge-collapse/comment-page-2/#comment-3781 Chen's World Mon, 13 Aug 2007 04:00:18 +0000 http://minneapolis.metblogs.com/2007/08/01/35w-bridge-collapse/#comment-3781 All, An unfortunate tragedy and all due sympathy/condolences to those touched. Rarely, does a collapse or event on this scale occur without many contributing factors being present at the same time. Unbalanced loads, overweight construction equipment, stop and go traffic oscillations,, rumbling trains, an aging structure and perhaps even a 1967 design oversight or substandard materials sustitution are all suspect contributions to the collapse. Even the air temperature may have played a role. The most insightful comment read thus far is that the bridge may have been on the brink of collapse for some time. At the location of initial structural collapse, the truss flopped over on its side, as opposed to the remainder, which fell down and crushed itself (saving many lives in the process). No doubt the NTSB folks have seen this and will tell us (please) exactly which gusset or rivet gave way first in this tradgic play of circumstancs. All,
An unfortunate tragedy and all due sympathy/condolences to those touched. Rarely, does a collapse or event on this scale occur without many contributing factors being present at the same time. Unbalanced loads, overweight construction equipment, stop and go traffic oscillations,, rumbling trains, an aging structure and perhaps even a 1967 design oversight or substandard materials sustitution are all suspect contributions to the collapse. Even the air temperature may have played a role. The most insightful comment read thus far is that the bridge may have been on the brink of collapse for some time.

At the location of initial structural collapse, the truss flopped over on its side, as opposed to the remainder, which fell down and crushed itself (saving many lives in the process). No doubt the NTSB folks have seen this and will tell us (please) exactly which gusset or rivet gave way first in this tradgic play of circumstancs.

]]> By: Doug http://minneapolis.metblogs.com/2007/08/01/35w-bridge-collapse/comment-page-2/#comment-3780 Doug Thu, 09 Aug 2007 20:43:18 +0000 http://minneapolis.metblogs.com/2007/08/01/35w-bridge-collapse/#comment-3780 The latest national stories (USA Today, NY Times)on the bridge are focussing on the "flawed gussets." And perhaps the gussets WERE flawed. But they worked for 40 years and they continue working on other bridges. What was different on the day of the tragedy was more than ONE HUNDRED ADDITIONAL TONS of construction material, yes folks, weighing down an already deteriorating structure. Whose decision was it to place all that extra weight on this rusty, shaky, old bridge? Why have news stories minced around this critical factor? The latest national stories (USA Today, NY Times)on the bridge are focussing on the “flawed gussets.” And perhaps the gussets WERE flawed. But they worked for 40 years and they continue working on other bridges. What was different on the day of the tragedy was more than ONE HUNDRED ADDITIONAL TONS of construction material, yes folks, weighing down an already deteriorating structure. Whose decision was it to place all that extra weight on this rusty, shaky, old bridge? Why have news stories minced around this critical factor?

]]> By: Rob D. http://minneapolis.metblogs.com/2007/08/01/35w-bridge-collapse/comment-page-2/#comment-3779 Rob D. Wed, 08 Aug 2007 21:20:38 +0000 http://minneapolis.metblogs.com/2007/08/01/35w-bridge-collapse/#comment-3779 Has anyone observed journalists in the area moving beyond descriptions of the collapse? In other words, are any local journalists or other news outlets empowering the public with prescriptions that will help people get involved to help prevent this type of thing from happening in the future? My thoughts on this topic are here - <a href="http://robdubinski.wordpress.com/" rel="nofollow">http://robdubinski.wordpress.com/</a> Has anyone observed journalists in the area moving beyond descriptions of the collapse? In other words, are any local journalists or other news outlets empowering the public with prescriptions that will help people get involved to help prevent this type of thing from happening in the future?

My thoughts on this topic are here – http://robdubinski.wordpress.com/

]]> By: StoshNick http://minneapolis.metblogs.com/2007/08/01/35w-bridge-collapse/comment-page-2/#comment-3778 StoshNick Wed, 08 Aug 2007 15:35:20 +0000 http://minneapolis.metblogs.com/2007/08/01/35w-bridge-collapse/#comment-3778 To: Doug, Kendall Nix, and all other M.O.P. (Media Owned Party) faithful, Ok lets see if we can get all of this out of the way for you folk. The REPUBLICAN Governor of the state, Pawlenty, was sitting in his office the night before putting the final touches on his evil plan, no, his evil "design" to cause the 35W bridge to collapse and kill his fellow Americans. Why did he "design" such an evil plan to collapse the bridge? Because he is a REPUBLICAN, and as everybody knows, all REPUBLICANS are really terrorists (excepting that small handful of M.O.P. representatives who just call themselves republicans for political expediency). We know REPUBLICANS ARE THE REAL TERRORISTS because we have absolute scientific consensus that the twin towers disaster was actually a PLANNED CONTROLLED DEMOLITION that was "designed" by the EVIL REPUBLICAN DICK CHENEY, and carried out on the orders of the EVIL REPUBLICAN GEORGE BUSH who was SELECTED AND NOT ELECTED, and who LIED ABOUT WMD. Ok. I think that covers most of the rage-driven M.O.P. talking points you guys feel the uncontrollable need to perseverate on ad-infinitum ...seriously, you're like iPods stuck on repeat mode.... Now that we've gotten all this out here in the open air where everybody can see it and bask in the glory of its journalistic wisdom, can we move on? To: Doug, Kendall Nix, and all other M.O.P. (Media Owned Party) faithful,

Ok lets see if we can get all of this out of the way for you folk. The REPUBLICAN Governor of the state, Pawlenty, was sitting in his office the night before putting the final touches on his evil plan, no, his evil “design” to cause the 35W bridge to collapse and kill his fellow Americans.

Why did he “design” such an evil plan to collapse the bridge? Because he is a REPUBLICAN, and as everybody knows, all REPUBLICANS are really terrorists (excepting that small handful of M.O.P. representatives who just call themselves republicans for political expediency).

We know REPUBLICANS ARE THE REAL TERRORISTS because we have absolute scientific consensus that the twin towers disaster was actually a PLANNED CONTROLLED DEMOLITION that was “designed” by the EVIL REPUBLICAN DICK CHENEY, and carried out on the orders of the EVIL REPUBLICAN GEORGE BUSH who was SELECTED AND NOT ELECTED, and who LIED ABOUT WMD.

Ok. I think that covers most of the rage-driven M.O.P. talking points you guys feel the uncontrollable need to perseverate on ad-infinitum …seriously, you’re like iPods stuck on repeat mode….

Now that we’ve gotten all this out here in the open air where everybody can see it and bask in the glory of its journalistic wisdom, can we move on?

]]> By: Doug http://minneapolis.metblogs.com/2007/08/01/35w-bridge-collapse/comment-page-1/#comment-3777 Doug Tue, 07 Aug 2007 17:53:54 +0000 http://minneapolis.metblogs.com/2007/08/01/35w-bridge-collapse/#comment-3777 There has been precious little coverage in the national media of the presence of tons of gravel-filled construction trucks (at rush hour, no less!) on this #4-rated, aging, span. What gives? Who was responsible for over-stressing this already shaky structure? If anyone has a link to a story covering the construction equipment, please send it or post it. I also find it interesting that Gov. Pawlenty, the very man who twice vetoed infra-structure funding for Minnesota, has been using the bridge for news photo ops, shedding crocodile tears over the victims, advocating funding now that the bridge has already collapsed!!!! No folks, it's not "too soon" to think about these matters. Unless, of course, you're a diehard Pawlenty fan. There has been precious little coverage in the national media of the presence of tons of gravel-filled construction trucks (at rush hour, no less!) on this #4-rated, aging, span. What gives? Who was responsible for over-stressing this already shaky structure? If anyone has a link to a story covering the construction equipment, please send it or post it.

I also find it interesting that Gov. Pawlenty, the very man who twice vetoed infra-structure funding for Minnesota, has been using the bridge for news photo ops, shedding crocodile tears over the victims, advocating funding now that the bridge has already collapsed!!!! No folks, it’s not “too soon” to think about these matters. Unless, of course, you’re a diehard Pawlenty fan.

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