Bridge collapses into Mississippi!!!

[Raph's Girl]

Watching it on the news right now!!!

Approximatly an hour ago at 6:05 CT a bridge spanning the Mississippi in Minniapolis collapsed during rush hour. No word on any casualties but there was a school bus that had 20 - 30 kids on the bridge at the time.

Here's a Yahoo article:

A freeway bridge spanning the Mississippi River collapsed during evening rush hour Wednesday, sending many cars into the water.

Tons of concrete collapsed and there were injuries, authorities said. Survivors were being carried up the riverbank.

Some people were stranded on parts of the bridge that weren't completely submerged.

The entire span of the Interstate 35W bridge collapsed about 6:05 p.m. where the freeway crosses the river near University Avenue in Minneapolis.

edit: The news is now saying 7 people have died

[Scandia]

Oh my goodness! That is so sad and devastating.

[Roseangelo]

I just saw this on the news and I know exactly where that bridge is and have gone over it many times.

[Raph's Girl]

Update:

58 injured and aproximatly 6 dead. There were 60 kids on the bus (musta been a HUGE bus). 1 of the fatality due to drowning.

They still don't know why the bridge collapsed.

[ZariusTwo]

Constructions, Form Devastator!

[Raven]

Crap, I know a few people that have to take that bridge durning the day.

[Buslady]

60 kids? Huge bus? Nah, probably a conventional...they hold up to 72.

*looks* Yep a 72 psgr conventional...an International too.

it looks fine, intact. Thank goodness for that! Kids got out fine. If I was the driver, I would be needing clean undies and I'd QUIT!

[Mars-Chan]

0_O


OMG...how terrible is that!??


My prayers go out to those in...wherever it is the collapse was!!

[Revan]

I was watching this yesterday, what a horrible thing to happen! It's kind of scary because I always trust public bridges and elevators and stuff... amusement park rides?... My mother is always afraid to cross bridges and I always thought it was a stupid thing to fear but then this happens. What really can you do to prevent it because I'm sure they did routine maintinence checks on such a hightly used road, right?

[Raven]

Originally Posted by Neutrino

I was watching this yesterday, what a horrible thing to happen! It's kind of scary because I always trust public bridges and elevators and stuff... amusement park rides?... My mother is always afraid to cross bridges and I always thought it was a stupid thing to fear but then this happens. What really can you do to prevent it because I'm sure they did routine maintinence checks on such a hightly used road, right?

Yeah its had a routine check up every year and nothing was serious was serious enough for it to be rebuilt.

I guess were getting federal aid on this one, there looking into getting it fixed right away.

All the stations have been covering it around here, if I remember right theres a total of 20-30 people missing.

Our gov. said there treating the bridge as a "crime scene" investagation to find out what caused it to collapse.

[Revan]

Originally Posted by Raven

Our gov. said there treating the bridge as a "crime scene" investagation to find out what caused it to collapse.

OMG that would be horrible if it was intentional. I'll be watching this story now to find out if there is in fact foul play at work.

[Roseangelo]

Originally Posted by Neutrino

OMG that would be horrible if it was intentional. I'll be watching this story now to find out if there is in fact foul play at work.

It wasn't intentional; it was a structural failure. What is meant by treating it like a crime scene is simply how all of the debris will be treated. Basically, none of it is moving until a bunch of people say so.

[Revan]

Ah yes that is what I thought. Could it just be that it was too old and run down. Would steal or whatever it's made of become weaker over time?

[Mr. Snackpants]

Originally Posted by Mars-Chan

0_O


OMG...how terrible is that!??


My prayers go out to those in Mississippi!

It happened in Minneapolis, Minnesota...don't want your thoughts and prayers headed toward the wrong people .

This is pretty sad. Especially since 2 years ago it was deemed "structurally deficient".

[Revan]

^ Nice catch. My uncle and grandfather live in Minneapolis which is why this story has caught my attention. My prayers to out to the affected as well.

Originally Posted by Mr. Snackpants

This is pretty sad. Especially since 2 years ago it was deemed "structurally deficient".

FOR REAL! WTF

[Mars-Chan]

Well, didn't I have a spazmatic moment?


Anyways....








PRAYER CAT IS PRAYING FOR THEM!

[Raven]

Originally Posted by Mr. Snackpants

It happened in Minneapolis, Minnesota...don't want your thoughts and prayers headed toward the wrong people .

This is pretty sad. Especially since 2 years ago it was deemed "structurally deficient".

yeah they have been saying that along with adding that it didnt need to be rebuilt any time soon. I'm just waiting to hear what the real cause was, and I guess over the next few days they will be realeasing the names of those that died, but I believe there still looking for those that are missing.

[Buslady]

I aint so sure about the crap that it didnt need any rebuilding or work after the findings of those structural issues, looks like they were wrongo.

I started to think about the Huey P Long bridge in NOL...this is one SCARY bridge, opened in 1935, and holds both auto AND rail traffic. It's a long drop into the river. It doesnt look scary in the photos but being ON it....yuk. We got stuck in traffic on it and when I was on the train I look out and see for miles, all river under us. That was frightening. Now...how well is that bridge structurally for it's age?

[Swany]

Oh my giddy god!

I hope they find out how it happened, shed some light on it. Its horrible that people died but it could have been worse. Still, a life is a life..God it just so horrible.

[Raph's Girl]

Yea.. The governor of Washington's now wanting all the bridges to be inspected.

Local news reporter was reporting at this 100 year old bridge that's in use but a bit run down....they mentioned that every once in a while pieces of it fall to the ground. And what's the reaction of the inspector? "Eh...it's safe...nobody's gotten hurt from the falling debris..."

But it makes me scared since I go across the Narrow's bridge to get to work. Yes there's that new bridge but still... I don't wanna end up in the water with the remains of Galloping Gertie and the herd of Giant Pacific Octopus!