Part of bridge falls and hits vehicle in Minnesota (Thanks Gov. Pawlenty)

[annm4peace]

Amazing.. (but not unexpected).. had to bring over from MN post

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=160x31368

StarTribune.com
I-35E closed in St. Paul after part of bridge falls, hits vehicle

By TIM HARLOW, Star Tribune

July 26, 2008

A freeway in the east metro was shut down for several hours Saturday after at least two large pieces of concrete fell from an overpass onto the road and struck a vehicle. No one was hurt, said Kent Barnard, a spokesman for the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

The pieces of concrete, which were about 2 feet wide and 1 foot thick, fell from the bottom of the Maryland Avenue overpass and covered the northbound lanes of Interstate 35E with debris, said Peter Panos, a spokesman for the St. Paul Police Department.

The State Patrol closed the freeway in both directions shortly after the incident at 4:45 p.m. Traffic was rerouted onto exit ramps to get around the overpass, said Tony Fischer, spokesman for the Regional Transportation Management Center. Traffic on Maryland Avenue also was rerouted, Panos said.

[Breeze54]

1. Who built the bridge? Is it new?

Just wondering. In MA the same thing happened and a woman was killed and I think it was KR&B that
built it. Many companies were sued over it. Glad no one was hurt in your falling bridge episode!

[BlooInBloo]

2. Uh.... how many bridges are they gonna let fall?

[bluestateguy]

3. Bush has let our infrastructure go to hell

Under his regime we have had the Northeast blackout of 2003, the Minnesota bridge collapse and the failure of the levees in New Orleans for Hurricane Katrina.

[LeftyMom]

4. In 1992, Clinton mentioned infrastructure in some campaign speeches

I had a shop teacher who would listen top a certain right wing hate radio blowhard back then and he was apoplectic- "roads! That's what that means, people, he wants to build roads!" (Apparently his audience either likes being talked down to or has no clue what infrastructure is.) For a while I wasn't sure why, then when the Newties hit power it became clear that they just have an irrational hate for government, even in the case of indisputably needed expenditures like keeping bridges safely maintained.

It's a good thing that they cut the purse strings and kept Clinton from doing anything about what was already some rather shoddily maintained infrastructure. Clearly, failing to maintain a system keeps it in tip-top shape and saves loads of money in the long run. :sarcasm: I'm going to try this myself and see how many years I can go without changing my oil. Surely the $80/yr savings will pay off big time in the long run. :eyes:

[DCKit]

7. My condo board is under the impression that delayed maintenance saves money....

I'm (financially) terrified.

[Endangered Specie]

5. The big question (from a structural standpoint) is *where* did it fall from?

[annm4peace]

6. One more week till 1st anniversary of 35W bridge collapse in MN

13 died.. many injuried. Many still emotionally scarred.

But hey, the new bridge just might be done in time for the RNC.