View Full Version : Massive bridge collapse in Minneapolis
David Jimerson
08-01-2007, 07:19 PM
During rush hour.
Hope everyone's OK. :beer:
Drew Ott
08-01-2007, 07:22 PM
I just saw this too.
I actually have relatives who live right next to this bridge and drive over it at least twice a day.
Jason Ramsey
08-01-2007, 07:25 PM
Damn...
3 people dead according to the BBC
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6927113.stm
Jason
boarderjosh10
08-01-2007, 07:54 PM
i was over there right after it happened, its pretty crazy how massive the destruction is, its very horrible to say, but there were definitely more deaths than just 3 people. They say over 50 cars are under the wreckage in the water.
ugafan
08-01-2007, 07:56 PM
that's nuts. really sad.
Drew Ott
08-01-2007, 07:56 PM
i was over there right after it happened, its pretty crazy how massive the destruction is, its very horrible to say, but there were definitely more deaths than just 3 people. They say over 50 cars are under the wreckage in the water.
Yikes.
Yeah, 3 deaths seemed a little too low.
I hope they get everybody out safely.
Noel Evans
08-01-2007, 08:39 PM
just caught it on cnn, horrible. dont want to even think about what some have suffered.
JasonFox
08-01-2007, 09:43 PM
We're still trying to get ahold of all our friends. Most live in south or west Minneapolis, so we're pretty hopeful.
ryan brown
08-01-2007, 09:46 PM
Newest update:
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/08/01/bridge.collapse/index.html
check out the link to the photos on that page.
HorseFilms
08-02-2007, 07:20 AM
As it stands now, the death toll is 4, but there are still about 20 people missing.
Knoxworth
08-02-2007, 07:25 AM
Last night they were reporting 9 deaths. 5 of them have been retracted?
Its so strange that the bridge collapsed with no apparent reason. The face that it is so close to the flow of the dam must figure in. Erosion of the support columns and perhaps alternating current.
HorseFilms
08-02-2007, 07:28 AM
Last night they were reporting 9 deaths. 5 of them have been retracted?
Yep, here's a quote from a recent update:
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.
Terry_Lasater
08-02-2007, 08:14 AM
Tragic.
Five years ago, there was a bridge collapse in Oklahoma due to its supports being struck by a barge.
link (http://archives.cnn.com/2002/US/05/26/barge.bridge/index.html)
Prairieboy
08-02-2007, 08:26 AM
One of the editors I work with lives right by there, he was going for groceries accross the river, but he had to turn back because he forgot his list, as he was pulling out again he saw the dust fly, and thought it was an explosion. Oddly at this point he is not too shaken by this event. I am sure many of the missing are in the Mississippi. It is very sad so close to home, or anywhere on this planet.
JohnMC
08-02-2007, 08:53 AM
Its so strange that the bridge collapsed with no apparent reason. The face that it is so close to the flow of the dam must figure in. Erosion of the support columns and perhaps alternating current.
If you see the video of the collapse you will see the joints of the green truss work fail. As every thing appears right now the lock system had nothing to do with it. With this bridge design there are no supports in the river. The local news is reporting that the U of M civil team found some problems with the joints and welds of the bridge.
JohnMC
Pretty sad.
The middle span seems relatively level going down. Hopefully, some of those people survived it. However, watch the section in the background. Very sad.
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=1ab_1186054443&p=1
Holy Harry
08-02-2007, 10:33 AM
What a nightmare. Just horrific.
God help them.
Knoxworth
08-02-2007, 11:29 AM
Yeah I see what you mean. The whole bridge spans the river without columns. Well I certainly don't feel that this one incident makes me any more likely to be in a similar incident. I heard news pundits asking experts silly questions as if every bridge in America is next to go down.
My city is on the Tennessee river with three fairly long bridges spanning from high banks. Feel pretty safe.
JasonFox
08-02-2007, 01:45 PM
I've got a friend who's a bridge engineer on the inspection side. I don't talk to him about his work -- much too scary.
David Jimerson
08-02-2007, 02:12 PM
Yeah I see what you mean. The whole bridge spans the river without columns. Well I certainly don't feel that this one incident makes me any more likely to be in a similar incident. I heard news pundits asking experts silly questions as if every bridge in America is next to go down.
My city is on the Tennessee river with three fairly long bridges spanning from high banks. Feel pretty safe.
And they keep showing shots of the bridge next door as if it's about to fail at any given moment. That's as silly as tracking every single plane you see after one goes down.