Sensor rejected before Minn. bridge fell

[brooklynite]

Source: AP

MINNEAPOLIS --A consultant for the state Transportation Department recommended installing high-tech sensors to detect cracking on critical sections of an interstate bridge less than a year before the span collapsed, killing 13 people, records show.

The recommendation made in a November 2006 report was considered but the agency ultimately went with other kinds of inspections because there were no signs of cracking on bridge trusses, said Dan Dorgan, a state bridge engineer.

"In the absence of cracks, we had no locations to monitor or information to orient monitors for crack detection," Dorgan wrote in response to written questions from The Associated Press.
The cause of the Aug. 1 collapse, which also injured about 100 people, is under investigation.

Read more: http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/10/16/sensor_rejected_before_minn_bridge_fell/

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oops

[dflprincess]

1. Dorgan is an engineer with MnDot

and management doesn't always listen to engineers (at any company) until something goes wrong. Then it's left to engineers to explain the mess and they wind up looking like the ones who made the mistake.

[Hulk]

2. Just keep those taxes down......idiots!!

It's the mental mantra for these "fiscal responsible" folks. NO NEW TAXES....bad, bad!! So what if the bridges are falling down, the poor can't keep their homes or afford housing.....just keep the bloody taxes down.

This country is sick from within.

My idiot sister wants bicycles off the streets until they pay their fair share of the road taxes....repug thinking. Neanderthals!

[Bitwit1234]

3. No the idiot is Phew-lenty he appointed the Lt. Gov as head of the

Department of Transportation. People have wanted the roads updated ever since he took office. He finally found a way to shut them up.

[Trillo]

4. It makes a lot of sense, that a sensor would likely have warned.

As the vibration occurs over the years, eventually cracks would form, and it certainly seems the vibratory pattern would change before a complete failure.

[truthisfreedom]

5. A great deal of wasted energy goes into finger-pointing with regard to this tragedy.

I believe everyone should wait for the analysis of the metal remains to know more about exactly why it happened.