Breaking News: Bridge Collapse in Minneapolis

[CptColumbo]

I hope none of you guys (Totovader, and others) were caught in this, it is a very heavily travelled bridge.

http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=261140

[parky76]

What?? Minneapolis???

I was specifically told by NWO Agent #248 that it was going to be in Cleveland...not Minneapolis.

Can't we get anything right???

[CptColumbo]

Finally got a hold of most of the people I know in the TC and they're all okay. I was a little worried, because I recognized a few cars in the news footage.

[gnome]

What?? Minneapolis???

I was specifically told by NWO Agent #248 that it was going to be in Cleveland...not Minneapolis.

Can't we get anything right???

Tough news, parky... you were part of a misinformation campaign.

I hope loss of life and injury are minimal

[Lisa Simpson]

You know, the NWO jokes aren't very funny when people are really injured or dead.

[CptColumbo]

If it had happened about half an hour earlier it would be a lot worse, than it's looking like from the coverage. It was at the tail end of rush hour, but it is near the U and many night clubs.

Crews were working to strengthen the bridge most of the summer. It will be interesting to see what was the cause.

[Undesired Walrus]

You know, the NWO jokes aren't very funny when people are really injured or dead.







Reminder: Either everything is ok, or nothing is.

[Alareth]

CNN has finally picked it up

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/08/01/bridge.collapse.ap/index.html

[CptColumbo]

This is the bridge my dad took to and from work until he retired a month ago. I called him in FL to tell him, since national news hadn't picked it up yet.

[Alareth]

I'm watching coverage on CNN right now and they are talking to a witness on the phone. I've already heard much fodder for CT quote miners.

The witness was about a half mile away and saw puffs of smoke, and mentioned that he thought is was a controlled demolition. He later clarified that there had been demolition and construction in that general area for the last year.

He did not see the actual collapse itself, just the smoke and the noise of the collapse. He mentioned demolition because that was what he at first assumed it was as part of the construction.

How much of the second part do you think will be cememoniously ignored by the CT's?

[fromdownunder]

From the latest I am now watching, nobody has died, but there are 20-30 injured so far, some critical.

I am not trying to be flippant here, but the conspiracy theories are already underway. These people make me sick!:

http://z10.invisionfree.com/Loose_Change_Forum/index.php?showtopic=13062

this eyewitness is on cnn talking to paula zahn on the phone, his witness of what happened makes it clear that this was no structural problem, authorities on the scene are baffled

no one can figure out how an entire bridge can collapse like that, just because one section fell

Norm

[Zep]

Hope everyone is OK there...

[Alareth]

Wait ...

It's already on Wikipedia? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I-35W_Bridge

[parky76]

I too hope no one died or was seriously injured in this strange accident. How does a bridge just collapse like that?

But, this is the conspiracy theory section, and we ALL know that the 9-11 Deniers will jump on this as some sort of false-flag/terror preperation event.

[alfaniner]

If I went up on the hill I could probably see the scene. Not sure if I want to...

[CptColumbo]

I too hope no one died or was seriously injured in this strange accident. How does a bridge just collapse like that?

Still to early to produce a theory, but it was being worked on http://www.dot.state.mn.us/metro/news/07/07/31twoniteclosure35w.html, and it is an old bridge.

To add a more personal note. The roadway on the riverfront that it collapsed on is one I use to get to a great movie theatre and bar which is under the bridge.

[Alareth]

According to KSTP, there is a 2006 MNDOT report indicating weakness at the joints of the steel that held the concrete deck above the River.


The first clues may lay in that report.

[alfaniner]

Huge storm moving in right now - will probably ground all the news choppers and hamper rescue/recovery efforts.

[Alareth]

Absolutely disgusting, from the LCF thread (http://z10.invisionfree.com/Loose_Change_Forum/index.php?showtopic=13062) on the subject:


smells fishy to me, looks fishy, we need to get ahold of that guy joe costello
and get him on video, check out the site, anybody takers? anyone from that
area? maybe this is the false flag we have been expecting, only this time,
its a bridge, and innocent people are expendible



And

WE NEED TO ORGANIZE and march on the senate begging them to impeach, this crap has to end... we are not clay dolls for them to manipulate, those bastards...



For those unaware, Joe Costello is a phone in witness on the CNN coverage.

[Alferd_Packer]

Mark Lacroix, who lives on the 20th floor of an apartment building near the bridge, told CNN he saw the last seconds of the collapse.


Clever how he changed his name from Mark Loizeaux ro Mark Lacroix.

[fitzgibbon]

Well, nobody ever accused CTers of having a clue.

[CptColumbo]

HCMC (Hennepin County Medical Center) Doc reports at least one death among patients brought to hospitals.

Bus load of kids was on bridge, so far all reported alive. Hope that trend of good news among the bad continues.

BTW this is also a main route to the HHH (Hubert H. Humphrey) Metrodome, and there is a Twins' game tonight. Tomorrow's game is cancelled (PPD).

[Reality Believer]

The physical aspects of the mechanical failure on this should be educational, at least to those who are unfamiliar to catastrophic failures.

A complex, static mechanism that has reached the the yield or ultimate strength of a few key components can cause global failure of the whole system.

[parky76]

This indeed will be studied and and will hopefully lead to good lessons about bridges and structures.

Anyone who thinks that this tragedy was orchestrated by the NWO, the Illuminati, the Zionists, or the Freemasons....has NO.....BLOODY....SOUL.

[chippy]

My apartment is less than 2 blocks from this bridge. I am quite obviously heavily shaken right now as I use this bridge several times a week. But I am ok.

The problem is that this bridge was heavily under construction. Workers had taken out large gouges of the bridge in their construction efforts, which have gone on all summer long. I imagine one of those gouges in the bridge just cracked and took the whole bridge with it. It is a span bridge with no support in the middle of the river, and there's an unsupported length of 400 feet.

The scene outside is just crazy right now. I've never seen anything like this. There's a constant hum of emergency crews and mobs and mobs of people.

[CptColumbo]

Another BTW the bridge you can see next to it is I believe the 10th Ave Bridge, which is not similar in design to the 35w bridge. So anyone trying to say that the other bridge looks to strong to just collapse, is proceeding from a false assumption.

[CptColumbo]

My apartment is less than 2 blocks from this bridge. I am quite obviously heavily shaken right now as I use this bridge several times a week. But I am ok.

The problem is that this bridge was heavily under construction. Workers had taken out large gouges of the bridge in their construction efforts, which have gone on all summer long. I imagine one of those gouges in the bridge just cracked and took the whole bridge with it. It is a span bridge with no support in the middle of the river, and there's an unsupported length of 400 feet.

The scene outside is just crazy right now. I've never seen anything like this. There's a constant hum of emergency crews and mobs and mobs of people.

Glad to read that you are OK, physically at least.

[Alferd_Packer]

BTW this is also a main route to the HHH (Hubert H. Humphrey) Metrodome, and there is a Twins' game tonight. Tomorrow's game is cancelled (PPD).

How many people wish the metrodome would collapse?

[gnome]

You know, the NWO jokes aren't very funny when people are really injured or dead.

Thoughts along those lines are partly why I added the serious bit at the end. I'm one that believes humor can mitigate the shock I felt when I read the link... if I'd been disrespecting the victims that would be another story...

[CptColumbo]

How many people wish the metrodome would collapse?

They postponed the groundbreaking of the new stadium, which was scheduled for tomorrow, due to the emergency.

Here's a photo of the bridge pre-collapse.
http://img.viacomlocalnetworks.com/images_sizedimage_213204523/xl

[Alareth]

I have an issue with Wolf Blitzer's coverage of this on CNN. He's overly fixated with the term "Plunged into the river" everytime he brings up the cars that were on the bridge during the collapse.

[CptColumbo]

Still haven't heard from my sister, but she rarely uses her cellphone and the circuits are pretty busy.

[parky76]

Cpt Columbo- I dont pray, but tonight I'll pray for your sister. Im sure she is fine, stuck in traffic. Don't worry.

[CptColumbo]

Cpt Columbo- I dont pray, but tonight I'll pray for your sister. Im sure she is fine, stuck in traffic. Don't worry.

Thank you. I try not to worry when there is nothing I can do about the situation, but it's hard sometimes.

Right now I'm afraid my cellphone is going to run out of juice, and I'll have to wait until I get home from work to find out everything is fine.

[SezMe]

Reminder: Either everything is ok, or nothing is.
That's an incredibly dumb thing to say. You're a ******* idiot.

Keep in mind the Membership Agreement and do not use personal attacks or insults to argue your point.

[Alferd_Packer]

I have an issue with Wolf Blitzer's coverage of this on CNN. He's overly fixated with the term "Plunged into the river" everytime he brings up the cars that were on the bridge during the collapse.


At least that isn't as bad as the local anchor here in Chicago. She described the river as "deep, dark and murky."

[chippy]

Still haven't heard from my sister, but she rarely uses her cellphone and the circuits are pretty busy.


Yeah, I can't even check my voicemail right now because the phone networks are so busy. It's nuts.

[CptColumbo]

Yeah, I can't even check my voicemail right now because the phone networks are so busy. It's nuts.

She's pretty new to the cellphone experience, so she may not remember she has one.

Someone here has a charger that fits my phone so I don't have to worry about that.

[The Doc]

This is horrible. I'm hearing 6 dead at the moment :(

I hate it how these conspiracy theorists try and turn every tragic event into a conspiracy. It's absurd, disgusting and offensive.

[Complexity]

I live in Eden Prairie, a southwest suburb of Minneapolis. My favorite coffee house is a bit north of the Mississippi and a bit west of 35-W, so I take (took) 35-W back and forth over that bridge daily.

They've been doing construction work on that bridge all summer, closing four out of the eight lanes at a time. They've been removing parts of the concrete surface and then resurfacing. I heard they were working on an anti-icing system that was embedded in bridge.

There were apparently about 30 workers on the bridge when it collapsed - all but one have been accounted for. I don't know about injuries.

They said that about 200,000 cars passed over this bridge daily.

Interstate 35 is one of the major north-south highways in the midwest. As it approaches the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, it splits into two highways, 35-W and 35-E. After passing through the Twin Cities, they merge again. 35-W passes through Minneapolis and 35-E passes through St. Paul. 35-E has speed and load restrictions (to keep St. Paulites happy), so most through-traffic goes along 35-W.

I can't tell you how much traffic hell will result from this bridge collapse. I wouldn't be surprised if it takes years to rebuild.

They just started a multi-year project to better integrate the crosstown expressway (62) with 35-W south of downtown Minneapolis. We've been told this will screw up traffic for years, and that was before the bridge collapsed.

I'm so sorry for the people who were caught up in the collapse. I hope most of them will make it.

[CptColumbo]

Along with the highway traffic, you also have to think about the river traffic. It's going to be a mess until they clear it out, and with the probable investigation it's going to take weeks.

[Björn Toulouse]

.....Here's a photo of the bridge pre-collapse.
http://img.viacomlocalnetworks.com/images_sizedimage_213204523/xl



That is one heck of a drop.

I guess we will hear more conspiracy stuff because of the quote in this story:

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=2007-08-01_D8QOK27G0&show_article=1&cat=breaking

Jamie Winegar of Houston said she was sitting in traffic when all of a sudden she started hearing "boom, boom, boom and we were just dropping, dropping, dropping, dropping."

If only these people would just use the internet to look back and realize that tragedies happen all the time and are not part of an impossibly vast conspiracy.

[parky76]

Well, if it went "boom", then it MUST have been a bomb.

I wonder how many Israelis were on that bridge? I bet none. Not too many Jews in Minneapolis you say? Well, isnt that just convenient.

[Complexity]

I forgot to mention that this is bound to have a big long-term impact on most traffic passing through the Twin Cities area, regardless of the direction of travel.

Interstate 94 passes east-to-northwest through the Twin Cities.

The inner Minneapolis/St. Paul metro region is surrounded by a distorted oval of highways, the half south of I94 is 494, and the half north of I94 is 694.

Interstate 35-E was deliberately designed to be lower capacity than 35-W so that it wouldn't have as much detrimental impact to the adjoining communities, including St. Paul. I heard that this includes some trucking bans, load restrictions, speed limits (e.g. 45 mph), and some awkward or missing intersections with other highways.

35-E won't be able to take up much of the 35-W traffic and, to the extent that it does, drivers will probably try to use segments of the 494 and 694 highways, as well as Interstate 94, which already have heavy traffic during much of the day.

I think that through-traffic on Interstate 94 will be disrupted and delayed for years. North Dakota, in particular, may not be very happy.

[CptColumbo]

I forgot to mention that this is bound to have a big long-term impact on most traffic passing through the Twin Cities area, regardless of the direction of travel.

Interstate 94 passes east-to-northwest through the Twin Cities.

The inner Minneapolis/St. Paul metro region is surrounded by a distorted oval of highways, the half south of I94 is 494, and the half north of I94 is 694.

Interstate 35-E was deliberately designed to be lower capacity than 35-W so that it wouldn't have as much detrimental impact to the adjoining communities, including St. Paul. I heard that this includes some trucking bans, load restrictions, speed limits (e.g. 45 mph), and some awkward or missing intersections with other highways.

35-E won't be able to take up much of the 35-W traffic and, to the extent that it does, drivers will probably try to use segments of the 494 and 694 highways, as well as Interstate 94, which already have heavy traffic during much of the day.

I think that through-traffic on Interstate 94 will be disrupted and delayed for years. North Dakota, in particular, may not be very happy.When someone told me the 35-w bridge fell into the river, at first I thought they meant the one south of the city in Burnsville, which is a much longer bridge.

[Complexity]

Dear mods - Could one of you move this thread out of conspiracy theories and merge it with the one that's in current events?

[Cl1mh4224rd]

This is horrible. I'm hearing 6 dead at the moment :(


Seven dead according to CNN... :(

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/08/01/bridge.collapse/index.html

[CptColumbo]

Seven dead according to CNN... :(

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/08/01/bridge.collapse/index.html
I'm fairly sure it will keep going up as the night continues.

[Alareth]

Dear mods - Could one of you move this thread out of conspiracy theories and merge it with the one that's in current events?

I think it should stay here as the CT's are already spinning up the conspiracy propaganda machine on this.

[Totovader]

I think it should stay here as the CT's are already spinning up the conspiracy propaganda machine on this.

Agreed- and I suspect there will be much more. Conspiracists froth at the chance to create their own conspiracy theories out of tragedies such as these.


In watching the reports, I heard one reporter say "it's like an earthquake hit". I just shook my head- because I realized how quickly the conspiracists will grab onto such nonsense and use their for their own personal crap.

Obviously- I'm ok. I haven't heard from a couple friends, but the lines are tied up still.

[Reality Believer]

.... In watching the reports, I heard one reporter say "it's like an earthquake hit". I just shook my head- because I realized how quickly the conspiracists will grab onto such nonsense and use their for their own personal crap.

Debunking live, as it happens! What is that old saying? "Kill it before it grows".

[CptColumbo]

Obviously- I'm ok. I haven't heard from a couple friends, but the lines are tied up still.

Glad to hear from you. I'm hearing from people on the phone who tell me they've been trying to get through for a while.

This is probably the worst non-weather related disaster to hit this state since the Mankato Massacre in 1862.

[~enigma~]

Glad to hear from you. I'm hearing from people on the phone who tell me they've been trying to get through for a while.

This is probably the worst non-weather related disaster to hit this state since the Mankato Massacre in 1862.I'm waiting to hear KT say this was staged...I mean there already is some bs over on LCF thanks to a certain poster.

[Pardalis]

We had one of those accidents a year ago, 5 poor souls died as well. :(

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15076523/
http://www.dcnonl.com/article/id23645

Maybe it's the same engineering problem that caused this tragedy.

[~enigma~]

We had one of those accidents a year ago, 5 poor souls died as well. :(

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15076523/
http://www.dcnonl.com/article/id23645

Maybe it's the same engineering problem that caused this tragedy.Is Laval near Sainte Foy?

[Ducky]

I knew someone on that bridge, but they walked away. There's a post in FC section with my thoughts on it.

Ps. from MnDOT the work they were doing on that bridge was surface/pothole related, not structural.


What a fricking mess.

[CptColumbo]

BTW either the Mpls. Fire Chief is really tall or the Director of Public safety is really short. or both. They look like Chewbacca (sans hair) and Princess Leia.

[Totovader]

We had one of those accidents a year ago, 5 poor souls died as well. :(

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15076523/
http://www.dcnonl.com/article/id23645

Maybe it's the same engineering problem that caused this tragedy.

I've heard conflicting reports on the state of the bridge:

1) It was inspected in 2006 and found to be structurally sound.
2) It was inspected in 2006 and was found to have serious structural integrity issues in the supports.

I anticipate an investigation.

The only thing I've seen that would make sense is that the recent heat waves we've been having probably would have had an effect- the bridge twisted to the side on one end as it fell... It would be interesting to see how much of a role heat played into this- because excessive weight just doesn't seem plausible to me.

I'm surprised that AJ hasn't barked about this, yet...

[jsfisher]

Reminder: Either everything is ok, or nothing is.


Sure, being callous isn't against the rules at all. But it is still incredibly rude, impolite, insensitive, crass, disgusting,... of you to trivialize Lisa Simpson's post.

Just my opinion....

[qarnos]

It would be interesting to see how much of a role heat played into this- because excessive weight just doesn't seem plausible to me.

Maybe it's something to do with the construction works Complexity mentioned?

[Ducky]

Maybe it's something to do with the construction works Complexity mentioned?

As far as I could tell the only work being done to it, and this was underscored by MnDOT reports earlier, they were repairing potholes. Nothing structural. Now there's tons of work happening all over 35w, but nothing directly affecting that bridge that I had ever seen in recent weeks.

[Pardalis]

Is Laval near Sainte Foy?

Not even close. :)

[Pardalis]

I'm surprised that AJ hasn't barked about this, yet...

Especially since witnesses described the sound it made as it collapsed as like an explosion. No kidding.

[CptColumbo]

I've heard conflicting reports on the state of the bridge:

1) It was inspected in 2006 and found to be structurally sound.
2) It was inspected in 2006 and was found to have serious structural integrity issues in the supports.I think I read a report on one of these news sites about Sen. Coleman mentioning the bridge passing the last inspection.
I anticipate an investigation. Coleman said he (he's up for election next year) would be looking into the inspection issue, at least.

[~enigma~]

Not even close. :)Good. I haven't spoke to my friend up there in about 6 years and I didn't want to have to call and ask if she's allright. I'll call tomorrow and see how she is doing. Probably be another 6-7 year stretch after that :)

[Ducky]

My first job in the twin cities was as a route delivery driver for a courier service (for those in the area, I worked for Quicksilver Courier at the time) and I was on that bridge all the time in 6o'clock traffic. I can certainly remember many bridges/overpasses in bumper to bumper traffic that you could feel stressing up and down. The Mall of America parking structure when packed full of traffic does this too. I don't know if it ever happened on that bridge, but with two lanes closed for pothole work (which is a never ending saga for Minnesota roads) I'm not sure if they could hit critical mass in weight via traffic.

But, I'd like to see what the findings are. I wonder if there were any erosions in the support pilings in the river.

[CptColumbo]

The Governor told CNN.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty said inspections of the 40-year-old bridge in 2005 and 2006 found no structural defects, but a 2001 study conducted by the Minnesota Department of Transportation found "several fatigue problems" in the bridge's approach spans and "poor fatigue details" on the main truss.

The study suggested that the design of bridge's main truss could cause a collapse if one of two support planes were to become cracked, although it allowed that a collapse might not occur in that event. But, the study concluded, "fatigue cracking of the deck truss is not likely" and "replacement of the bridge ... may be deferred."

[Complexity]

The only problem with this thread being in the conspiracy forum is that a lot of people who might be interested in this never or hardly ever visit the conspiracy forum (e.g. me).

Oh, well, it doesn't matter.

They've stopped rescue operations for the night - it is too dangerous for the rescuers.

[patchbunny]

An interesting speech (http://www.ntsb.gov/Speeches/former/hall/jh960311.htm) by James Hall, head of the NTSB to the American Automobile Association in 1996 on the subject of highway bridges and their condition.

[Complexity]

I wonder if the closure of half of the lanes for resurfacing and the resulting sustained uneven traffic load might have been a contributing factor.

They reported this evening that the rebuilding of a similarly sized bridge out east after its collapse took over two years.

[CptColumbo]

Heard the BBC world service talking about it on the way home.

Long message on my answering machine from my sister when I got home. Thank God, and whatever else I should be thanking. She was stuck in the traffic for two hours, ended up going north to 694 and riding it all the way around Minneapolis to 494 and finally to west Bloomington.



Pardalis-Love the new Avatar. Man of Steel be with you.

[Ducky]

Well, I'm heading down there today to help pass out supplies and food etc. or whatever else they need bodies to do. I'll report what I see when I get home.

If you are in the area and want to help, call 612-460-3700 and ask about volunteering to help today.

[alfaniner]

I went up to The Point last night just to see what I could see. Plenty of other people there also. But, since the bridge was gone, there was nothing to see. Like a familiar painting with one element missing.

Was weird going to work today. Lots more people waiting for the bus. Where there would normally be only one person every three or four blocks, today there were three or four people every block.

I get on that very freeway on the stop before the collapse. It was very strange to see no traffic on the southbound side, where there is usually quite a backup. As my direction takes me the opposite of the main flow of traffic, I'm not too affected by the detours. But yes, this will be a mess for years.

I'm guessing that along with structural flaw, it may have been due to a sympathetic vibration (as shown on Mythbusters -- a small influence can have a large effect). I'm speculating that the construction work may have been taking place at a "node", and the stop & go of slow rush-hour traffic caused a wave that grew with every advance.

Here is a link to a simulation of road traffic and obstructions. I studied this for some time previously, just curious about the physics and psychology of the event. (Requires Java) The Lane Closure with maximum vehicle per hour shows what I'm thinking. The top part shows very similar to how the traffic tends to move in local situations.
Sim of road traffic (http://vwisb7.vkw.tu-dresden.de/~treiber/MicroApplet/)

[bje]

1. The bridge collapse looks exactly like a controlled demolition.
2. The collapse took place in Minnesota.
3. A campus of the University of Minnesota is located suspiciously close (http://www1.umn.edu/twincities/maps/mpls.jpg) to the bridge.
4. James Fetzer taught (http://www.d.umn.edu/%7Ejfetzer/) at the University of Minnesota. He was therefore in a position to have inside knowledge of the campuses.
5. James Fetzer has a partner, Kevin Barrett.
6. Kevin Barrett taught at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Barrett)
7. Wisconsin is next to Minnesota. Coincidence?
8. Fetzer and Barrett are 9/11 Conspiracy Theorists. They believe the government was behind the 9/11 attacks. They know about explosives.
9. 9/11 Conspiracy Theories have failed to convince anyone.
10. Therefore, it was in Fetzer's and Barrett's interest to destroy the bridge and blame it on the government to gain support for their 9/11 conspiracy theories.
11. Fetzer and Barrett had the means, the knowledge, the motive, and time on their hands to blow the bridge.
12. Therefore, James Fetzer and Kevin Barrett staged a controlled demolition of the bridge.

Any questions?

[casebro]

You forgot "President Bush was in on the planning. And lied about the reasons".

[Complexity]

The construction workers have been using jackhammers on the surface of that bridge for many weeks. Up to a few dozen jackhammers, all along the span of the bridge, from morning through evening.

A bridge specialist said this morning that the design of the bridge (arch/truss mix) is very unforgiving - every element is required to keep it standing; that the generally heavy traffic on the bridge would have caused the bridge to age more than its 40 years would suggest; and that the vibrations and stresses from construction may have caused small fractures to fail catastrophically.

I think a lot of people are staying home today.

At a press conference this morning, it was revealed that many people who survived the collapse only to die while being extricated from cars and debris. Several were able to give rescue workers messages for their loved ones before they died. No other info on them was available.

They doubt there are any more undiscovered survivors.

It will take them quite a while to search for the dead. Debris will only be removed once investigators give approval.

[ponderingturtle]

I'm guessing that along with structural flaw, it may have been due to a sympathetic vibration (as shown on Mythbusters -- a small influence can have a large effect). I'm speculating that the construction work may have been taking place at a "node", and the stop & go of slow rush-hour traffic caused a wave that grew with every advance.

Actualy it is questionable that any bridge ever collapsed do to harmonic resonance. The tacoma narrows bridge collapsed possibly becuase of negative damping. I would be very supprised if any sort of resonance issue was involved in this.

web page on the tacoma narrows bridge (http://www.ketchum.org/wind.html)

[CptColumbo]

I'm getting the feeling that the news networks are disappointed that death toll isn't higher. They're also seem to be trying to make people afraid to cross any bridge.

[Mince]

What?? Minneapolis???

I was specifically told by NWO Agent #248 that it was going to be in Cleveland...not Minneapolis.

Can't we get anything right???


I got an interdepartmental email last night explicitly warning me to not go to Minneapolis today. It also warned me to sell my stock in "Minneapolis Roadways." Don't let this information get out.

[Cain]

I talked to my dad today and the bridge in MN came up. He has a theory about the collapse: God did it to punish us for our sins. In a booming voice I told him to kiss my ass. Well, the voice was booming in my head.

[alfaniner]

They are calling the fact that 60 kids on the bus survived a "miracle" (this only about 4 hours after the incident). While I am very happy for the kids and their families, I think the relatives of those who died would argue with that. It's just dumb, random **** as to who was on that bridge, exactly where and when.

[SezMe]

"luck" is now an auto-censor word? :confused:

[Pardalis]

Damn I just heard on the news that the casualty list might be up to 30 poor people! That's so terrible! :(

[quixotecoyote]

Puts a hole in that whole faith argument "When you drive on a bridge....."

[President Bush]

You forgot "President Bush was in on the planning. And lied about the reasons".

The bridge's deck truss has not experienced fatigue cracking. but it has many poor fatigue details on the main truss and floor truss systems. The research helped determine that the fatigue cracking of the deck truss is not likely, which means that the bridge should not have any problems with fatigue cracking in the foreseeable future.

As a result, Mn/DOT does not need to prematurely replace the bridge because of fatigue cracking, avoiding the high costs associated with such a project.


http://kstp.com/kstpImages/Technical%20Report.pdf


I will be presenting the Presidential Medal of Freedom to officials at the Minnesota Department of Transportation later today in the East Room of the White House.

[SezMe]

I read somewhere recently that Minnesota had the second worst traffic congestion (by state) in the USA, a statistic I was quite astonished by. Of course, California was the worst. This bridge failure can only make the problem much worse.

I tried to find a linky for the study but couldn't but I did turn up this interesting table (http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/congestion_report/chapter3.htm#table3_2). It lists the worst traffic congestion points in the USA. Do you travel through any of these?

[Ducky]

ok well it was a very long day, and there's so much going on down there it's hard to sum up everything I saw, and heard from those around.

Firstly, I need to say that the Red Cross, rescue/recovery workers, and all of the professionals in emergency response are unbelievably organized and efficient. They are all working very very hard, especially the divers.

The families of injured at the hotel a few blocks away and the ones still checking for missing are understandably distraught, but there is no hysterics that I saw. It's almost quiet emotionally, where workers and families of loved ones missing or injured alike were either still in shock, or simply unable to release that much emotion, focusing on tasks at hand to keep themselves together.

I've been home trying to nap for a while and can't seem to sleep. I didn't think it would hit me how absent that bridge feels not just when you look over at the disaster, but how its absence permeates the entire area, both in people's faces and in the overall perception of what is the city. It's simply not the same, and it's never going to be the same.

I need to go try to sleep. I don't think I can handle going back there tomorrow, and from what I saw, they will have plenty of help anyway.

[Snide]

I read somewhere recently that Minnesota had the second worst traffic congestion (by state) in the USA, a statistic I was quite astonished by. Of course, California was the worst. This bridge failure can only make the problem much worse.

I tried to find a linky for the study but couldn't but I did turn up this interesting table (http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/congestion_report/chapter3.htm#table3_2). It lists the worst traffic congestion points in the USA. Do you travel through any of these?I don't know about the facts, what measurements were used, etc. I only know that it sucks commuting in the Twin Cities. I count my blessings every day that my commute to work is less than five minutes.

[Beerina]

BTW, this has a minor extra side-story in Detroit. Apparently one of the Detroit Piston's assistant coaches just missed being on the bridge by about 20 seconds.

[Iamme]

They are calling the fact that 60 kids on the bus survived a "miracle" (this only about 4 hours after the incident). While I am very happy for the kids and their families, I think the relatives of those who died would argue with that. It's just dumb, random **** as to who was on that bridge, exactly where and when.

I thought the same thing when I heard that remark on tv.!

So God extended his hand to the kids, but left some others to be horribly squashed and perhaps die agonizing deaths?

[Snide]

I thought the same thing when I heard that remark on tv.!

So God extended his hand to the kids, but left some others to be horribly squashed and perhaps die agonizing deaths?It's all part of His plan. They are in a better place now. Except those who didn't find Jesus before God took them. And the rescuers helped keep people alive, thus delaying His plan. They are heroes, though, because He put them there and gave them the skills. It's all a part of His plan, but you still have free will, so repent and accept Him now! My head hurts.

[CptColumbo]

I don't know about the facts, what measurements were used, etc. I only know that it sucks commuting in the Twin Cities. I count my blessings every day that my commute to work is less than five minutes.
My commutes, despite working in multiple locations, are usually on 494. My current one is along the Bloomington Strip in the early afternoon. It's only congested between 100 and 35w, but otherwise pretty easy. Years ago I used to have to go 394 during rush hour, that hell I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.

[Snide]

My commutes, despite working in multiple locations, are usually on 494. My current one is along the Bloomington Strip in the early afternoon. It's only congested between 100 and 35w, but otherwise pretty easy. Years ago I used to have to go 394 during rush hour, that hell I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.Key, I think, is "early afternoon." But yeah, generally, that strip of 494 isn't so bad considering the volume it handles, sans construction. But maybe we're just getting used to it(?)

[CptColumbo]

Key, I think, is "early afternoon." But yeah, generally, that strip of 494 isn't so bad considering the volume it handles, sans construction. But maybe we're just getting used to it(?)
About a year ago I came from Minnetonka during rush hour and 494 was clear until 169. Then it was real bad.

[Snide]

BTW, this has a minor extra side-story in Detroit. Apparently one of the Detroit Piston's assistant coaches just missed being on the bridge by about 20 seconds.That was actually head coach Flip Saunders (http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_6531316?nclick_check=1) and his daughter. Scary!

"I usually take the 35W bridge, but the ramp was closed," Saunders said Thursday from Minneapolis in a telephone interview. "My daughter was driving in a car right behind me when the bridge collapsed - about 20 yards away from us..."

[CptColumbo]

Snide-

Your avatar made me remember how Da Crusher used to call Lake Minnetonka, "Minitinki Lake."

Bring back the AWA, especially "Rock n'Roll" Buck Zoomoff and "Maddog."

[Snide]

Snide-

Your avatar made me remember how Da Crusher used to call Lake Minnetonka, "Minitinki Lake."

Bring back the AWA, especially "Rock n'Roll" Buck Zoomoff and "Maddog."...and the Claw!!

[CptColumbo]

...and the Claw!!
Ahh my youth. Those were my Sundays after church. During the summer it was AWA then "Rat Patrol" on 'CCO or the alternating Ma and Pa Kettle & Blondie movies.

[Iamme]

Snide-

Your avatar made me remember how Da Crusher used to call Lake Minnetonka, "Minitinki Lake."

Bring back the AWA, especially "Rock n'Roll" Buck Zoomoff and "Maddog."

Maddog Veshon? Vs. The Crusher?

[CptColumbo]

Maddog Veshon? Vs. The Crusher?

I would've pay good money to see that match. The main event I got to see live at the old Minneapolis Auditorium was Crusher vs. Nick Bachwinkle (don't remember how to spell it) in a cage match. Jesse and Adrian were in one of the prior matches, but I don't remember who they fought.