Comments on: Bridges Under Scrutiny As Minn. Mourns
As Many As 30 People Still Missing In Wake Of I-35W Bridge Collapse; At Least 4 Dead, 79 Injured
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- "I would love to blame Bush, but ...the mony to repair the bridge it would not have been singled out as a concern because it did not show signs of concern..."
Posted by Ammermantm
Oooooh, not so fast:
"The bridge was rated as "structurally deficient" 2 years ago and possibly in need of replacement. The deficiency rating is from a complex formula. A score of 80 percent or less indicates some rehabilitation may be needed; a 50 percent score or less indicates replacement may be in order. The bridge was rated at 50 percent.
The data also summarize the bridge's status as "structurally deficient." Bridge components are ranked on a scale of 0 to 9, with 0 being "failed" and 9 being "excellent."
In 2005, the bridge's superstructure was rated at 4. The bridge's deck was rated 5, and the substructure, comprised of the piers, abutments, footings and other components, was rated 6. The report noted "many poor fatigue details" and said certain members of the main truss should be inspected every two years. In addition, the report said, certain sections of the floor trusses had high stress areas that should be inspected every six months.
Gov. Tim Pawlenty said Wednesday night that the bridge was inspected in 2005 and 2006." http://www.startribune.com/10204/story/1338970.html
But what they fail to mention is that Gov Tim Pawlenty cut the MNDOT budget for inspections. They might have inspected the bridges, but it was a shortened version of the standard tests. - Reply to this comment
- wow
they are spending 40 billion a year for keeping up with bridges and roadways already
maybe we should spend another 100 billions, eh?
How much is enough, gotta get rational here. - Reply to this comment
- If it were actually a terrorist attack, it would be wise not to give them credit for it in the world press either way.
When the muslim world see's they succeded, it only inflames thier patriotism....good for recruiting suicide idiots for the next attacks... - Reply to this comment
- President Bush said the federal government will help ensure that the collapsed bridge "gets rebuilt as quickly as possible."
Sweet. All you have to do is have a bridge fall down, and Bush suddenly gives a hoot about the nation's infrastructure.
I bet you if a couple of jets get lost on the nation's air traffic control system and collide, he'll give a hoot about that part of our crumbling infrastructure, too.
Must be a Republican thing; don't ever plan ahead for worst case scenarios, and whenever possible don't plan ahead at all. - Reply to this comment
- Posted by GKC99 at 11:04 AM : Aug 02, 2007
This bridge was built in 1967...Bush wasn't president in 1967.
Are all liberals as ignorant as you?????
... - Reply to this comment
- Posted by GKC99 at 11:04 AM : Aug 02, 2007
This bridge was built in 1967...Bush wasn't president in 1967.
Are all liberals as ignorant as you?????
... - Reply to this comment
Ammermantm, you're right.
Besides, this bridge should have been replaced YEARS ago.
It's Clinton's fault!!
...- Reply to this comment
- I would love to blame Bush, but even if the government had given us (I live here in Minneapolis) the mony to repair the bridge it would not have been singled out as a concern because it did not show signs of concern. this is a freak accident that happened. terrible yes but not Bush's fault.
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- Putting aside the human part of the story... I understand engineers' avoiding premature diagnosis without having enough info to make a good diagnosis. I have my theories though for IF the cause was not related to the fatigue cracks. Take with a grain of salt because it is pure long-distance speculation.
The bridge construction is item #6 on the MNDOT pdf list of Minneapolis construction projects, listed as "Bridge repair, concrete rehabilitation..." I don't know for sure if parts of the concrete deck were removed, cut, or weakened during this repair work, but my theory is that the lane restrictions caused an unbalanced load and the trusses were loaded eccentrically and had a torsion component. The bridge repairs may have disconnected the deck diaphragm from the top chord of the trusses, leaving the top chord, which was in compression, unbraced at a local segment of the truss. The vibration of the train combined with the torsional load and the unbraced top chord may have caused the top chord to have buckled and failed in one spot creating a hinge in the entire truss. The way the bridge pieces are laying on the ground it kind of looks like a lateral torsional failure of the truss as a whole... it looks like the center of the bridge moved quite far in the lateral/horizontal direction. - Reply to this comment
- If you want some news that's a bit on the lighter side, check out the far-left blog, DailyKos. The comments posted regarding the bridge collapse are priceless. They're already blaming Bush and Cheney for the collapse. Some of those nuts are even suggesting a conspiracy was behind it.
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- It is amazing living here in Minneapolis and having friends and family call from all over the nation to make sure my family and I are okay... Thank you God for protecting those who were safe on 35w and be with those who may have lost love ones and heal those that have been broken...In Jesus Name
- Reply to this comment
- MY PRYARS GO OUT TO ALL THE VICTIMS AND THEIR LOVED ONES.
BRANDY C.
COLUMBUS, OHIO - Reply to this comment
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