Major bridge collapses in my hometown

**Devastatin Dave** · 08-02-2007, 18:42

Sorry for your loss. Hopefully the recovery will be quick.

**Whacker** · 08-02-2007, 19:06

Yeah that made me wince when I saw it on the TV. Hopefully they will find the missing folks soon and there won't be much/any more loss of life.

I'd also be very curious to hear what caused the entire bridge to collapse. That's no small thing esp. for a high traffic bridge like that.

**seireikhaan** · 08-02-2007, 20:14

Yeah, I too am curious as to how the bridge collaped. It's been fine for quite a while now, hasn't it? How does it one day just collapse like that?

**Caius** · 08-02-2007, 20:19

I guess there was something wrong with the structure.

**Martok** · 08-03-2007, 00:33

Originally Posted by greaterkhaan

Yeah, I too am curious as to how the bridge collaped. It's been fine for quite a while now, hasn't it? How does it one day just collapse like that?

Best guess right now is that it had something to do with the combination of the warmer-than-average summer (we've had several consecutive 90-degree days), the heavy rush-hour traffic, and the roadwork that was being done on it. Most likely the bridge simply couldn't handle all these simultaneous stresses.

Still, it's really too early to tell. I suspect it's going to be some time before we truly know what happened.

**Marshal Murat** · 08-03-2007, 03:46

From what I heard...
The bridge was due for repair and update, which was the reason that many workers were repairing the structure.

Now is the time to decide between rebuilding it for cars, or building railways.

**KukriKhan** · 08-03-2007, 04:10

My daughter lives in M/St Paul. When I heard the news, I emailed her. She didn't answer, so I worried. Hours later, I txt'd her via phone, and she responded "we're OK and in Ohio cornfields." (She's visiting her Mom, my ex).

The relief. Is indescribeable.

My sorrowful condolences to the families of the dead, and those who haven't had the luxury of a positive response, like I had. I know (some of) their anguish.

**Lorenzo_H** · 08-03-2007, 08:28

I was in Minneapolis about 2 weeks ago. My cousin actually drove over the bridge (he lives 4 blocks away from it) only hours before it collapsed, if I am not mistaken. I'm quite shocked as I remember going over that exact bridge.

I'm very sorry for all the people whose family or friends didn't make it.