Bridge collapses!
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Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Houston, TX
Hope Duke wasn't on that one......
My wife drove that bridge everyday to work when we lived back there......
On a lighter note, as a native Minnesotan I can't imagine how horrible traffic is going to be there for the foreseeable future......
My wife drove that bridge everyday to work when we lived back there......
On a lighter note, as a native Minnesotan I can't imagine how horrible traffic is going to be there for the foreseeable future......
Last edited by ddellwo; Aug 1, 2007 at 08:14 PM.
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From: Lost some where in the middle of the Ozark Mountains!
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,291790,00.html
Tons of concrete have collapsed and people are injured. Survivors are being carried up the riverbank.
This bridge connects downtown Minneapolis and the University of Minnesota.
The entire span of the 35W bridge collapsed about 6:05 p.m. where the freeway crosses the river near University Avenue.
Some people are stranded on parts of the bridge that aren't completely in the water.
A tractor-trailer is on fire at the collapse scene.
This bridge connects downtown Minneapolis and the University of Minnesota.
The entire span of the 35W bridge collapsed about 6:05 p.m. where the freeway crosses the river near University Avenue.
Some people are stranded on parts of the bridge that aren't completely in the water.
A tractor-trailer is on fire at the collapse scene.
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From: Burleson, Texas
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From: North of Dallas, South of Frisco
You know, in the 80's two bridges collapsed. They had an investigation, and found that the contractors had been using substandard (weak) bolts in the construction of those bridges.
They suddenly, and without warning, sheered off under the pressure...
I sure hope our super-high overpasses here in DFW are better built. (High-Five)
They suddenly, and without warning, sheered off under the pressure...
I sure hope our super-high overpasses here in DFW are better built. (High-Five)
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Joined: Apr 2005
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From: In a van down by the river
[QUOTE=ddellwo]Hope Duke wasn't on that one......
QUOTE]
I was driving to our downtown office to pick up some binders from Arden Hills. For those of us no familiar with Minneapolis, I was heading south on 35W at the section north of the bridge. I was 300 yards from the bridge and rounding the bend in the highway where it becomes visible.
Looking ahead I saw a ton of cars rear ending each other and brake lights, then a huge plum of black smoke as the tanker on the collapsed portion of the bridge went up in flames.
We had to go in reverse to get back to the next exit and then get off the highway. Mean time every cop, fire truck, and thing with lights came flying past us down towards the bridge.
I made it to my girlfriend’s apartment which is three blocks from the bridge and all you could hear were helicopters and sirens. She and I walked down to the pedestrian bridge (still open) that is not far from the 35W Bridge.
It’s beyond eerie; I just don’t know how to describe it. They said based on the length of the bridge, the fact that traffic was moving 15 mph, and that the average space in-between cars of 20 feet, they feel that roughly 200 cars were on the bridge at the time. HOWEVER, only 50 cars have been accounted for at this time. But they also are speculating that some cars were able to push there way off the bridge at the last moments. So it could be as low as 50 cars in the water under the bridge or as high as 150.
This would explain why the bridge hasn’t begun to sink into the river which is deep enough for a barge. They are starting to realize that the cars are under the bridge and holding it above the water.
Duke
QUOTE]
I was driving to our downtown office to pick up some binders from Arden Hills. For those of us no familiar with Minneapolis, I was heading south on 35W at the section north of the bridge. I was 300 yards from the bridge and rounding the bend in the highway where it becomes visible.
Looking ahead I saw a ton of cars rear ending each other and brake lights, then a huge plum of black smoke as the tanker on the collapsed portion of the bridge went up in flames.
We had to go in reverse to get back to the next exit and then get off the highway. Mean time every cop, fire truck, and thing with lights came flying past us down towards the bridge.
I made it to my girlfriend’s apartment which is three blocks from the bridge and all you could hear were helicopters and sirens. She and I walked down to the pedestrian bridge (still open) that is not far from the 35W Bridge.
It’s beyond eerie; I just don’t know how to describe it. They said based on the length of the bridge, the fact that traffic was moving 15 mph, and that the average space in-between cars of 20 feet, they feel that roughly 200 cars were on the bridge at the time. HOWEVER, only 50 cars have been accounted for at this time. But they also are speculating that some cars were able to push there way off the bridge at the last moments. So it could be as low as 50 cars in the water under the bridge or as high as 150.
This would explain why the bridge hasn’t begun to sink into the river which is deep enough for a barge. They are starting to realize that the cars are under the bridge and holding it above the water.
Duke
Last edited by F150 Duke; Aug 2, 2007 at 09:26 AM.
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From: In a van down by the river
Here is actual video of the bridge falling down....
http://wcco.com/topstories/local_story_213191448.html
http://wcco.com/topstories/local_story_213191448.html