I-5 bridge over Skagit River collapses, cars with people in water

[opiate69]

Source: King 5 News

Washington State Patrol confirms an I-5 bridge over the Skagit River has collapsed and at least two cars with people inside are in the water.

The incident has closed all northbound and southbound lanes.

KING 5 News crews are en route. More to follow.


Read more: http://www.king5.com/news/local/Report-I-5-bridge-collapses-over-Skagit-River-cars-in-water-208758631.html

[onehandle]

1. Austerity Wins Again! nt

[dipsydoodle]

86. What has austerity got to do with a truck hitting a bridge.

[snappyturtle]

2. Oh 'NO' ! One word: infrastructure. nt

[DRoseDARs]

3. Apologies for the dark post, but at least our Congressional reps' flights weren't delayed...

Fuck the little people and their dangerously underfunded, crumbling infrastructure. Rep. Porker (R-Teafuckerstan) had a tee-time of 8am the next day, very important. Your bridge repairs can wait...

[alp227]

17. and that bridge connects the towns of Mt. Vernon and Burlington.

GLENN BECK once lived in Vernon. But the bridge is divided between the 1st and 2nd WA congressional districts - represented by Democrats: Suzan DelBene (WA-1) and Rick Larsen (WA-2). The bridge is also in the 40th state legislative district - all with Democrats. Hmm. This area is a left leaning one even though Beck once lived there. I'm sure the elected officials there will passionately take action in response. But under the speakership of Boehner, expect more gridlock and politicking.

[iemitsu]

54. While many communities in western Washington are left leaning

Mt Vernon and Burlington are not among them. I have many relatives in that valley and I spent my youthful summers enslaved on a dairy farm in the area. I can attest from personal experience that the people there are not liberal. Bellingham citizens elected DelBone and Larsen was elected by suburban commuters, who live in Arlington and work in Seattle.
This event will cause terrible traffic headaches on I-5 for months to come. There is no easy alternate route.

[Suich]

4. More info here:

http://www.reddit.com/r/Seattle/comments/1ey32g/i5_bridge_in_burlington_has_collapsed_infoupdate/

[Ptah]

24. That;s frightening, Suich

Hope you are safe

[Suich]

27. I'm fine...an hour south in Seattle.

Some Canadian relatives left their car here Wed. and flew to San Francisco. They're coming back Tuesday and going home on Wed. I don't think I'll tell them.

[nolabear]

5. Watching now. Apparently WA just got a "C" to "D" grad on infrastructure.

I've been on that bridge many times. Hope everyone gets out of the water. Jeez.

[Flying Squirrel]

6. Here's a pic

Right in my neck of the woods... been over that bridge many a time. $ for crumbling infrastructure? Nope... $ for endless war? YEP

[PatrynXX]

12. reminds me of the one IA and WI are fighting over

Two republican Gov's neither will pay (near Lansing IA) to close that bridge would kill the town...

[SCVDem]

7. Congress must enjoy blood on their hands.

These infrastructure failures are unnecessary and the Presidents bill is sitting there waiting for action!

[a kennedy]

8. and I'm sure we're going to be hearing a lot more of this.....

all bridges all over the country are in terrible shape....this is only the beginning.

[SomeGuyInEagan]

31. Not just bridges - dams are in as bad if not worse shape ...

National grade of a D by one group:

http://www.damsafety.org/news/article.aspx?a=43&p=34b49ab1-b1d0-47b6-a5e3-8ab190b291df

[Evergreen Emerald]

77. Boeing took much of their business out of WA --

Because WA asked them to pay their fair share of taxes.

Individual citizens across the US are paying taxes. The corporations need to take a bit out of the millions given to CEO bonuses and pay taxes to assist in the infrastructure that keeps them in business.

[PatrynXX]

9. shovel ready jobs that mean way more jobs than XL Pipeline destroys and

another bridge collapses. zzzz which costs alot of money to fix. Dumb shits.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

10. We went through this in Minneapolis

just a few years ago.

Thirteen people died.

[gopiscrap]

11. This is what happens when you spend money on war

and not on infrastructure and people. I have been over that bridge many times. Hope every one is ok.

[area51]

70. +1 n/t

[Rozlee]

13. Republicans will think of giving them a new bridge if they'll cut more funds for

Medicare or child nutrition. It's how it works in this brave new heartless world run by the Republican controlled House.

[randr]

14. How soon before we hear it is another Obama scandal?

He did it just so he could create jobs.

[hunter]

15. This is horrible.

I've been over that bridge a few times.

[OhioChick]

16. The US infrastructure is falling apart, quickly n/t

[ErikJ]

18. Washington St. has no income tax. Their billionaires live free

[golfguru]

33. But we pay very high sales taxes and property taxes

and we are doing better than Oregon who has state income tax.

[ErikJ]

37. I dont know about that-here's their debt clocks

http://www.usdebtclock.org/state-debt-clocks/state-of-oregon-debt-clock.html

http://www.usdebtclock.org/state-debt-clocks/state-of-washington-debt-clock.html

Looks like Washingtons debt to GDP ratio and debt per capita is higher than Oregon's

[golfguru]

64. Well....US federal gov't is the world champion debtor Outfit

Check unemployment rates, no. of jobs being created, economic output/capita,
performance of students, etc. which are better indications than debt clock.

[exboyfil]

19. Our interstate system is the crown

jewel of our infrastructure, and we can't keep it up?

[Spitfire of ATJ]

20. If this had been taken out with a terroist bomb they would replace it with a "victory bridge".

[Botany]

21. You do not use a bridge until it breaks

BTW this kind of repair and upkeep used to be paid for out of
the taxes we pay when we buy gasoline but then repugs got some
power and everything has gone batshit crazy.

[Mr. Evil]

22. OK, interstate bridge collapses.

Time to give more money to Wall Street. And Pat Robertson will probably say the bridge was gay.

[davidpdx]

75. No, Westboro Baptist Church will say the bridge collapsed because of gay people

They are so predictable you know it's coming.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

23. Deja vu all over again -

This happened in Minneapolis a few years ago.

[Kennah]

25. ASCE gives American infrastructure a D+

http://www.infrastructurereportcard.org/

The really scary part is that bridges and rail are tied with a C+ and the 2nd best grade.

Solid waste gets a B-, and while I'm sure there's a joke there, I just hope all are OK.

[nolabear]

26. On TV here now, DOT says it's from the 50s. Our friends are checking in.

[Newsjock]

28. 2009: Mount Vernon awards Glenn Beck key to the city

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/56662302.html
September 2009

The mayor of Mount Vernon has made it official. Mayor Bud Norris says he will give the key to his city to conservative talk show host Glenn Beck on September 26.

Norris says Beck will deliver a short talk that night and become the first person to receive a key to the city in the six years Norris has been mayor.

Protesters from the Skagit County Young Democrats walked outside city hall Tuesday with protest signs, one reading "Change the locks!"

[nolabear]

29. I forgot about that. But to be fair it is really, really wonderful territory.

I've had some of the best times ever at the Skagit River Poetry Festival, which is one of the country's best. And a lot of that land is reservation, though the bridge isn't on rez land.

[wickerwoman]

69. We used to go up there every year for the tulips

I'd say it's rural but not that right-wing.

Where's that jackass Tim Eyman from? (Answered my own question- born in Yakima, lives in Mukilteo)

[dixiegrrrrl]

78. the author Tom Robbins lives in that area.

and the Skagit valley is a lovely drive, plus the only way to get to Bellingham from Whidbey Island without taking a ferry.

Bridge out means a LOT of long slow drives on cingested 2 lane roads.

[classof56]

84. My daughter and son-in-law in Bellingham are headed to OR today for the weekend.

Talked to her this a.m. and she mentioned Chuckanut Drive as the detour, which in spots is much like Hwy 1 on the CA coast, narrow and winding. Guess we'll see them when we see them. Looking at the collapsed bridge, guess we can be grateful it wasn't worse. WADOT may want to reassess their bridge deficiency list, which didn't include the Skagit.

Didn't know Tom Robbins is a local. Don't blame him. Gorgeous country up that way!

[kairos12]

30. Maybe the Koch brothers will rebuild it

[SoapBox]

45. ya...right

and the TeaPukers won't invade and take over any more sovereign nations.

Hope no one got seriously injured.

[golfguru]

32. We have money to gift Pakistan Billions every year but not for infrastructure!

Why we protect oil lanes through straits of Hormuz from which most oil
flows to China & Japan with borrowed money from them?

[Warpy]

34. Thank you, Ronald Reagan, Grover Norquist, Stupid

because your skewed tax policies have allowed the wealthy to avoid supporting the country and that has meant a lack of money to repair and replace our infrastructure when needed.

I don't even think this was one of the more dangerous, under maintained bridges cited. However, I5 is the major truck route along the west coast, Canada to San Diego, so a lot of people up north will be doing without veg and a lot of people to the south can kiss their fish dinners goodbye.

[chknltl]

35. just heard truck with wide load caused bridge to collapse

Caller on AM 1000 was the truck driver. Said he saw his load hit one of the girders which started the collapse.

[WestStar]

39. KFI in L.A. reporting the same.

n/t

[chknltl]

41. KOMO AM 1000 is trying to confirm

I listened in as that caller called in. He said he felt the hit as his load struck one of the overhead girders. When he looked in his rearview he saw the girder come down and that started the collapse. This call was about ten minutes ago. KOMO is trying to confirm this still.

[PearliePoo2]

50. I heard that too!

But you have to wonder if a girder was hit, should it cause the entire bridge to collapse?
Infrastructure people!
I've been over that bridge more times that I can count!

[AtheistCrusader]

58. That design is strong, but like a pop can.

You can stack a bunch of college text books on an empty pop can, but put a dent in the side of the can, and crush-o. Comes down immediately.

A more modern bridge can be built without that sort of vulnerability, so, still a good reason to replace this ancient shit we have around here.

Thankfully no one died. Lots of property damage and some injuries though.

[opiate69]

40. oh man, that`ll add a bunch of wrinkles to the situation..

Citations, insurance fights, etc.. gonna be lots of finger pointing.. I`ve been away from a good wi-fi.. any info on injuries coming in?

[chknltl]

44. not yet. i have horrible internet connection on smart phone, radio not much better and no tv.

Been across that bridge a jillion times. I am not buying into the infrastructure problem our fellow DUersare running with regarding this particular collapse yet. The 11th street bridge (the old bridge behind the new bridge visible from the old Metal Shop), was just restored a few months back. They did beautiful work with it and the cost must have been enormous. So if money was available from the state for THAT bridge.... well I think I'll wait to render judgement till all the data is in.

[chknltl]

47. quasi confirmation:. witness followed oversized load almost to bridge

Witness caller to AM1000 said he was stuck behind truck with oversized load as he got on I-5 and followed it to Sedro Woolley exit where he exited freeway. Breaking: confirmed no fatalities. 3 people pulled from water.

[opiate69]

49. "Confirmed no fatalities".. if that's the case, then excellent news....

[Hissyspit]

53. @CBSNews: UPDATE: No fatalities in I-5 bridge collapse in NW Wash.; 3 rescued http://t.co/5MK4CuAqg

@CBSNews: UPDATE: No fatalities in I-5 bridge collapse in NW Wash.; 3 rescued
http://t.co/5MK4CuAqgz

[uppityperson]

56. Watching local news and they are saying 3 in the drink and all removed. Whew but argh

Redirecting traffic on to Hwy 20? Something like that.

[daleo]

43. A well maintained bridge shouldn't fail because of a wayward truck load

Every event has initiating causes and underlying causes. The underlying causes are the real concerns.

[chknltl]

51. KOMO AM 1000 just had an expert on, bridge built 1955 considered obsolete but functional.

When asked if this bridge could collapse if overhead girder hit as was described she said yes. Breaking: witness said bridge was collapsing as truck was crossing. Speculation is that the truck load was hit by collapsing bridge as opposed to load striking bridge causing collapse.

[AtheistCrusader]

59. A bridge of that design will.

A single load bearing link gone, and the whole thing fails. Like a toothpick skyscraper. Granted, a more modern bridge would have a different design, and possibly no exposed girders at all.

[chknltl]

63. That is very likely the case here accdg to KOMO AM 1000

Bridge expert interview agrees. This bridge was rated as functional but obsolete. The design could indeed be the cause here, it was known prior to collapse that a single girder failure on this bridge COULD cause this failure. State Patrol has all but confirmed that the truck with the heavy load had hit one of the girders.
These are the things I am heading on radio over past hour. Fascinating interview with male survivor now out of hospital exam. He popped his dislocated shoulder back into place unbelted his wife and helped her out of car.

[golfguru]

67. Maintenance was not the problem, design flaw was the problem

If a truck hits the side girders of the bridge, the bridge should not collapse
if the design is sound. The design should not incorporate load bearing girders
on the sides of a bridge which can be hit and damaged in an accident.

IMO the load bearing girders should be UNDER the bridge and thus not at risk
of damage by a large truck. The sides of the bridge should consist only of railings
which would prevent cars from falling off the bridge.

[AtheistCrusader]

73. A modern bridge of that type would do exactly that.

They'd put the supports under it. Not immune to everything, a tanker truck fire brought one down not too long ago, but much better than structural shapes over the roadway.

From the early witness descriptions, the truck's load hit the TOP girders.

[Hissyspit]

46. @BreakingNews: Witnesses say truck struck I-5 bridge in Washington state before collapse - @KING5Sea

@BreakingNews: Witnesses say truck struck I-5 bridge in Washington state before collapse - @KING5Seattle broadcast http://t.co/RmiDEKQGrm

[Historic NY]

36. This country is falling apart because of GOP gridlock....

band-aides to hold thing together since 2001 aren't working anymore.

All told, 69,223 U.S. bridges are classified as “structurally deficient,” according to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Many of these bridges have exceeded their 50-year design lifespan. In fact, the average age of an American bridge is 42 years. To put this in perspective, the report notes that “there are more deficient bridges in these 102 regions than there are McDonald’s restaurants in the entire country – 18,239 versus about 14,000.”

http://www.forbes.com/sites/williampentland/2011/11/04/americas-most-dangerous-urban-bridges/

[totodeinhere]

38. Wow. I used to live up there in Burlington and crossed that bridge almost daily.

My thoughts are with the victims and hope everyone can be rescued.

[Harry Monroe]

42. Never forget who has blood on their hands over this

In September 2011, President Obama proposed the American Jobs Act, which among other things would have allocated $50 billion to do things like fix the nation's dilapidated bridges.

Even though it received a majority vote of 50-49, Republicans filibustered, so it needed 60 to pass. It was then broken up into smaller bills, with the $50 billion infrastructure part being relabeled the Rebuild America Jobs Act. It again received majority support 51-49, but it again failed due to a Republican filibuster. It would have been paid for with a 0.7% tax on Americans earning more than $1 million per year.

[freshwest]

87. Our worst home-grown terrorists are the GOP.

[SCVDem]

48. Truck hits bridge?

Trucks were smaller in 1955.

Think it was time for an upgrade?

[AtheistCrusader]

60. This was an oversized load.

Oversized loads existed in the 50's too. That said, it was pretty old. There are more bridges of that type on I-5 down near Kelso, and Centralia. It is high time they be replaced.

[Cleita]

52. So much for that jobs bill President Obama wanted to repair

our crumbling infrastructure. DH and I drove over that bridge with a trailer in tow many times in the past. I guess we are very lucky. My heart goes out to those who fell in the water.

[colsohlibgal]

55. Sadly, No Surprise

We should be making infrastructure a high priority rather than giving wealthy people and companies huge tax breaks they don't need at all. Our screwed up priorities do not bode well as we move along but who knows, maybe tea party types will start realizing their anger is misplaced.

[uppityperson]

57. Map of where it is (Skagit is pronounced Skadjit, not skag-it)

[AtheistCrusader]

61. I like hearing out-of-towners try to pronounce 'Puyallup' too. :D

[opiate69]

62. that, and Sequim lol

[mahatmakanejeeves]

76. I've been over that bridge.

The name that had me throwing in the towel was Wahkiakum. And Okanogan. And Mukilteo. Come to think of it, a few others too.

http://www.co.wahkiakum.wa.us/

http://www.okanogancounty.org/

[chknltl]

66. It's been my experience that few even try.

Brought a smile to my face the day I heard Thom Hartmann mangle it on the radio. That was back when we still had AM 1090...(insert big sigh here).

[Flying Squirrel]

71. I hear some have trouble with Snoqualmie and Puget Sound too.. lol

Echoing your sigh.

[marlakay]

83. I have lived here almost ten years

And have trouble with a lot of names, shows I am not from here!

[nolabear]

81. Having come from the South I thought "Isn't that 'Pull-y'all up'?" LOL!

[ManiacJoe]

74. Google maps is already updated?!?!?!?

[grahamhgreen]

65. How many Walmart trucks drove over that bridge while the Waltons fight to pay fewer taxes?

[jakeXT]

68. The bridge is not considered structurally deficient but is listed as being "functionally obsolete"

Skagit County, between Seattle and Vancouver, Canada, lies on the Pacific coast and includes many islands. Of its 223 bridges, the Federal Highway Administration termed 11 "structurally deficient," meaning that they need repairs. Fifty-five were listed as "functionally obsolete" in the 2009 listing. The term indicates that bridge's design is from another era. Its features are quaint by modern standards.

The number of bridges the state's transportation department considers "structurally deficient" has grown nearly 50% in the last six years, according to a 2012 government report. At the time 11% of the "deck area of all bridges" in Washington were in the category.
http://edition.cnn.com/2013/05/24/us/washington-bridge-collapse/index.html

The bridge is not considered structurally deficient but is listed as being "functionally obsolete" - a category meaning that the design is outdated, such as having narrow shoulders and low clearance underneath, according to a database compiled by the Federal Highway Administration

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/bridge-collapses-nw-wash-people-water-19246261

[dipsydoodle]

72. BBC News - pictures here

US road bridge collapses into Skagit River, Washington http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-22650268

Good to hear there were no fatalities.

[AAO]

79. But nobody could have foreseen that an old decrepit unmaintained bridge.... aw crap!

[AtheistCrusader]

80. Bridge maintenence was fine.

It was not decrepit. Just outdated design, vulnerable to physical impact.

[daleo]

82. Obsolete design is a sign of poor infrastructure maintenance in a system wide sense

When infrastructure becomes dangerously obsolete, proper maintenance would include upgrading or replacement. Otherwise, it's just waiting for failure.

[revolution breeze]

85. Daughter's boyfriend worked at the car dealership just west

of the interstate. He said they spent lunch betting on how many pieces would fall off the bridge into the river.