08/02/2007
Tragedy in Minneapolis: I-35 Bridge Collapse
Our thoughts and prayers go out to those affected by yesterday's I-35 bridge collapse in Minneapolis.
The death toll currently stands at nine and rising. Looking at the horrific images, it's easy to think how it could have been much worse.
The fact that there are even survival stories to tell is a small miracle: " Jamie Winegar said she suddenly started hearing 'boom, boom, boom and we were just dropping, dropping, dropping, dropping.' She said her nephew yelled, ''It's an earthquake!' and then we realized the bridge was collapsing.' Behind the wheel, Dennis Winegar fought to keep their rented Chrysler 300M under control. 'I slammed on my brakes and saw something in front of me disappear and then my car pointed straight down and we fell.' He estimated they dropped about 50 feet.
Jamie Winegar said everyone around them got out of their cars and tried to help others off the bridge. 'There were a bunch of people right around there helping everyone. Angels is what I call them.'"
A disaster sure to change Minneapolis for a long time. A few blogs following the still-unfolding situation:
Minnesota Monitor, Buzz.MN, Minneapolis Metroblogs, via Eleventh-Avenue-South.
Images [wcco minneapolis]
The bridge was said to be under repair. Given our reactionary society, the disaster will no doubt make people take a closer look at America's aging infrastructure, despite what the cause of the I-35 collapse is found to be.
Seven dead in I-35W bridge collapse in Minneapolis [minnesota public radio]
Sphere: Related ContentPosted 8:26 AM EST by Andy in Minneapolis, News | Permalink
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The TV footage doesn't do justice as to just how freakin' huge this collapse was. That was a massive bridge. Money for infrastructure upkeep here in Minnesota, both state and ferderal, has been very tight since 2000. This bridge passed state safety inspections in '01, '05, and '06, but news is now leaking that it was deemed structually deficient by a federal inspection in '05.
I'm sure the fur will begin to fly as soon as the initial shock wears off. There's going to be some 'splaining to do, governor Pawlenty.
The saving grace here was that only a couple of lanes were open, as the bridge was being redecked. It could have been much, much worse. That bridge is an all-lane bumper-to-bumper situation during rush hour.
Posted by: zinc alloy | Aug 2, 2007 8:59:33 AM
All empires begin to fall when the powers that be refuse to invest in infrastructure.
The death knell of america that repub mentality never grasps. Strengthening one's center is the surtest way to national survival instead of blowing up outside "enemies". Rome fell when money was switched more to foreign wars instead of building aquaducts, stadiums, roads, fountains (were used to air purify= airate water of bacteria instead of just looking pretty), etc.
ALL of the roads , bridges, etc in america are crappy at the moment. Be surprised this doesn't happen more often.
Posted by: anon | Aug 2, 2007 9:06:59 AM
I was there at the scene about 45 minutes after it happened. Believe me, what you see on TV is NOTHING compared to what I saw in person. I'm still trying to process it in my mind.
Posted by: Allen | Aug 2, 2007 9:29:22 AM
Just think, if instead of dumping one trillion plus dollars on an illegal and disastrous war in Iraq, if a small portion of that money was spent on repairing/rebuilding our roads, bridges, public parks and lands, hospitals etc. But, unfortunately for all of us, that's just not the American way. My deepest sympathy to the families and friends of those that were lost in this tragedy.
Posted by: Tom | Aug 2, 2007 9:34:26 AM
"Take a look at" the infrastructure I can believe. Actually invest and improve on a meaninful scale -- oh hells to the no.
Posted by: Becks07 | Aug 2, 2007 9:35:11 AM
exactly right Anon... unfortunately 1.7 billion is instead being spent towards rebuilding Iraq's infrastructure... sadly America is slowly beginning to pay for its bully war.
it's heartbreaking.
Posted by: A.J. | Aug 2, 2007 9:45:32 AM
side note:
today (aug 2) is to be the grand grounbreaking
of the new twins stadium funded partly with public (state) money which is what the billionaire developer has been pushing for
hmmmm
Posted by: kuros | Aug 2, 2007 10:10:45 AM
The groundbreaking is cancelled for today.
Posted by: Allen | Aug 2, 2007 10:42:52 AM
I guessing the number of people with gephyrophobia just went up.
Posted by: Gregg | Aug 2, 2007 11:03:40 AM
This is hardly another Katrina/NOLA. Let's not exaggerate.
Posted by: anon (gmail.com) | Aug 2, 2007 1:49:42 PM
"This is hardly another Katrina/NOLA. Let's not exaggerate."
WTF does this mean? Do you question that the infrastucture in the US is in need of attention (and has been for decades, and has been debated, and ignored)? Do you question the questioning of priorities of our government?
Where has your head been?!
Posted by: JT | Aug 2, 2007 2:15:48 PM
Regarding the Katrina thing.
Let's be clear. At the very least the initial cause of the New Orleans disaster was NOT man made. Mother nature cooked this one up somewhere far offshore--something humans have little control over (setting aside global warming issues, of course.)
The pathetic response to Katrina WAS of course man made. Or rather man-ignored. Ignored by the government. People left unaided and dying.
Now, let's look at Minneapolis.
A bridge: Man Made.
Maintenance: Man Made.
Total Responsibility for issue: Man Made.
Read: Literally Americans killing other Americans.
Most of these bridges were built all over north america during the years right after the second world war. The concrete used was faulty and really was only meant to last about fifty years.
Guess what? Times up. Check out Montreal. TWO bridges have collapsed in that city alone.
To compare IN ANY WAY to Katrina is uninformed, and frankly, a slap in the face to the families of those who have died. Death is death, no matter the who, what, where, why, when, or how.
Posted by: James | Aug 2, 2007 3:19:45 PM
"The pathetic response to Katrina WAS of course man made. Or rather man-ignored. Ignored by the government. People left unaided and dying."
I didn't bring Katrina up in the first place, and still don't get the comment to which I first responded. However, I would say that if one is talking about government incompetence, then a comparison on that basis is certainly valid and worth getting knickers twisted over.
And James, your comment about a death being a death actually makes the argument for comparison. The deaths that resulted from Katrina yet might have been avoided had priorities been set accordingly (re: levees and disaster plans) and incompetence not ruled the response are clearly the fault of man, not nature.
Posted by: JT | Aug 2, 2007 5:25:14 PM
Just wanted to chime in, not so much about the argument above. Just about how sad I feel right now, seeing that broken bridge and thinking about the people affected. I live in San Diego now but grew up right in that neighborhood. Minnesota and Minneapolis have always seemed like such havens for sensible, responsible people and government. Regardless of the cause of the accident, I cried when my sister called minutes after the collapse and described things even before news channels covered things. Big love and support to the Twin Cities!
Posted by: Jano | Aug 2, 2007 6:57:07 PM
Its a bridge. It failed and that resulted in a loss of life (9 and counting) and a mild (yes mild) disruption to Twin Citians lives. I live and work within miles of that bridge. I know one person injured and in the hospital but will recover fine. My boyfriend witnessed the bridge collapse. However - I would like to say this - emergency response worked. Minneapolis/St. Paul prepares for all sorts of disasters - we do this very very well. People were on the scene within moments and officials communicated with each other and with the public. No one panicked.
We live in a world where shit happens. It how you respond to it that matters. We in minneapolis/st. paul will adjust to this tragedy and move on. The bridge will be rebuilt and until that happens we will use alternative routes. No matter what - you cannot prevent seemingly preventable events from happening no matter how you argue about it in gay blogs. Its called be prepared. And we were.
Posted by: yoshi | Aug 3, 2007 12:04:37 AM
Yoshi:
Yes, shit happens. All of the time. But if you can prevent it, don't you think it wise to do so?
And the response of Midwesterners is rarely an issue, and this case proves no exception. But the fact that life will almost always go on doesn't make it any easier for those for whom loved ones' lives won't.
I am not a fatalist. It is my hope that this incident provides an indelible warning. Clearly, the prior warnings of this structure's weaknesses, along with the warnings expressed for decades about our national infrastructure, faded away from the public's consciousness and concern. I think that unnecessary loss of precious human life, for whatever reason, deserves scrutiny.
Posted by: JT | Aug 3, 2007 2:46:48 AM
New meet people section with video. On spynbuy. http://spynbuy.com/members/videolist/videonew/?cid=49
Posted by: Spynbuy | Aug 3, 2007 2:24:35 PM
If you really want to talk about things man controls and how many lives were destroyed, lets get into an ALCOHOL discussion and how many have did from ALCOHOL. And quite worrying about a bridge. My heart goes out to all the family who loss life and this was a tragic accident. But most things that take life is a tragic accident and could have been prevent if there would have been some responsible party. I long for the day when we can say that we lost 50 last year to drunk driving. If we're trying to eradicate every accident then lets start from the highest and move to lowest case of MAN MADE responsibility issues.
Just a thought.
Posted by: SDS | Aug 4, 2007 12:47:29 PM
If you really want to talk about things man controls and how many lives were destroyed, lets get into an ALCOHOL discussion and how many have did from ALCOHOL. And quite worrying about a bridge. My heart goes out to all the family who loss life and this was a tragic accident. But most things that take life is a tragic accident and could have been prevent if there would have been some responsible party. I long for the day when we can say that we lost 50 last year to drunk driving. If we're trying to eradicate every accident then lets start from the highest and move to lowest case of MAN MADE responsibility issues.
Just a thought.
Posted by: SDS | Aug 4, 2007 12:51:01 PM