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PrintDo You Trust the Bridges You Drive Across?
News Type: Opinion — Mon Mar 24, 2008 1:39 AM EDT
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Before August 1st, 2007, I would have said yes to that question. I actually never gave it a second thought. I couldn't tell you how many bridges I cross daily. There are numerous overpasses, too many to count. I work in downtown Minneapolis and cross the Mississippi on a regular basis as I frequently give a co-worker a ride home. If I use 394 for my commute, I go under the construction of a bridge being built to bring the light rail down to the new Twins Stadium, also under construction. As I watch it slowly transform I cannot help but wonder, what if?
When the 35W bridge went down the whole Twin Cities metro area was in shock for days after. The bridge was a main artery. I am sure there were many like me who wondered just how many times we had driven over that bridge throughout the years without giving it a second thought.
Why am I bringing this up now? Well, just last week another bridge of similar design was closed in St Cloud,MN. A MN DOT bridge inspection found that the gusset plates were bending in four areas. Acting transportation commissioner Bob McFarlin was lauded for acting so quickly. The bridge was being re-examined after the National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB) called a press conference in January and announced that a design flaw in the gusset plates may have caused the collapse of the 35W bridge. They stated at the time that the exact cause had not yet been determined and that the investigation was still on-going. But, they were concerned enough with their findings to issue a warning for bridges of similar design.
That's great! Good for MN DOT, except for the fact that that particular bridge was inspected by MN DOT just days after the collapse of the 35W bridge. It was at that time, deemed safe. Now it could be argued that they didn't know that they needed to be looking at the gusset plates. Well, just what were they inspecting?
If that was not enough to make me nervous. The NTSB released photos dated June 2003 which clearly showed the gusset plates bending on the 35W bridge. The gusset plates are what is used to connect girders together in the truss structure. I don't know I am no engineer. But, if I saw something bending, a piece that basically helps hold the bridge together, I might just consider that it was under stress. Stress that might cause it to fail.
In answer to my original question, do I trust the bridges that I drive over. I would have to say, not any more.
* This article is also published at Azsky13: Whatever...
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- Groups: Minnesota Newsviners
- Regions: Minneapolis/Saint Paul
 | Old photos show flaws in steel of collapsed Minnesota I-35W bridge | The Minneapolis Star Tribune | Sun Mar 23 | 5 |
 | Pre-Collapse Photos Show Bends on Bridge | Associated Press | Sun Mar 23 | 0 |
| Officials Quickly Close Steel Bridge in Minnesota When Problems Found | The New York Times | Sun Mar 23 | 3 |
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4.8
{"commentId":1612947,"authorDomain":"azsky13"}
Old photos show flaws in steel of I-35W bridge
This article shows the pictures of the gusset plates that were bending.
{"commentId":1612947,"threadId":"239084","contentId":"1386033","authorDomain":"azsky13"}
- 1 vote
#1 - Mon Mar 24, 2008 1:46 AM EDT{"commentId":1612987,"authorDomain":"azsky13"}
{"commentId":1612992,"authorDomain":"azsky13"}
{"commentId":1613152,"authorDomain":"bigmomma"}
I guess we just have to be glad they are Now checking these bridges more carefully....
On another note, I checked out your blog, is that new?
{"commentId":1613152,"threadId":"239084","contentId":"1386033","authorDomain":"bigmomma"}
- 2 votes
#2 - Mon Mar 24, 2008 6:31 AM EDT{"commentId":1616702,"authorDomain":"azsky13"}
{"commentId":1613629,"authorDomain":"Andimia"}
I've never trusted large bridges since the Hoan Bridge incident in Milwaukee. It didn't completely collapse but the possibility that any of our bridges could fail at any moment became very real at that point.
{"commentId":1613629,"threadId":"239084","contentId":"1386033","authorDomain":"Andimia"}
- 1 vote
#3 - Mon Mar 24, 2008 10:28 AM EDT{"commentId":1613793,"authorDomain":"azsky13"}
{"commentId":1614351,"authorDomain":"TNTalk"}
The issue is more than "trust of bridges". Bridges are designed by engineers and built by specialized construction crews and bridge builders. The engineers are in a position of trust. The construction crews are in a position of trust. Prestressed concrete builders and iron workers are in a position of trust. A bridge is a tool that must be maintained by someone. Standards must be met and maintained. The persons responsible for maintaining the bridge are the "trust". When a bridge is not maintained or looked after, this is a violation of trust. When a known flaw is found in a bridge that can compromise the users, trust dictates action. That action is often the problem. It is easier to leave a bridge in service than to fix the bridge. It is easier to leave a bridge in service than to replace the bridge. Blindly trusting a bridge is an act we take for granted. Politicians and engineers that maintain those bridges are both the problem and the solution in our society. Bridges boil down to the accountability of people. That should be the primary focus.
{"commentId":1614351,"threadId":"239084","contentId":"1386033","authorDomain":"TNTalk"}
- 2 votes
#4 - Mon Mar 24, 2008 1:43 PM EDT{"commentId":1614470,"authorDomain":"azsky13"}
{"commentId":1615116,"authorDomain":"stacym"}
I was kind of weirded out by it for a while. I cross the river every day.
I'm not so much weirded out by it now, but it still crosses my mind now and then. It's strange, because yeah, you never really thought about it before.
The Lowry bridge in NE needs replacement as well, it's in worse shape then the 35 Bridge was. Doesn't sound like they are even going to start until 2009 though. I'm not sure if they are going to keep it open until then, or if they are going to close it for a year.
{"commentId":1615116,"threadId":"239084","contentId":"1386033","authorDomain":"stacym"}
- 2 votes
#5 - Mon Mar 24, 2008 4:40 PM EDT{"commentId":1616729,"authorDomain":"azsky13"}
{"commentId":1615255,"authorDomain":"securityboy18"}
yeah, I really don't like driving over bridges either. they have always freaked me out. especially the ones that steep to a slight point that's roughly 80 feet in the air. I grew up in Massachusetts and there are many tall bridges. never liked them. now i fear even more after that bridge fell. But most of the time we have to go over a bridge because I live in a peninsula and the only ways to get out are bridges that are miles long.
{"commentId":1615255,"threadId":"239084","contentId":"1386033","authorDomain":"securityboy18"}
- 2 votes
#6 - Mon Mar 24, 2008 5:17 PM EDT{"commentId":1616686,"authorDomain":"azsky13"}
{"commentId":1677610,"authorDomain":"MinnieApolis"}
Yeah, long bridges always tend to sway in high winds -- like a ride at the midway, except it's free! Yahoo!
As for me, it is not so much a matter of trust as of having to do what you have to do. We do lots of things every day that could theoretically blow up in our faces (literally) or result in our death if it is just our fate. We could get hit by a car every time we cross the street, we could blow up the house every time we use the gas, a short could catch fire, etc.
But to just get thru each day we have to put that stuff out of our minds -- not that we ignore safety but we can only do the obvious safety precautions.
As for trusting the state or trusting the bridges -- the real problem is that the state of Minnesota does not want to assess the taxes required in order to execute a rational build/rebuild plan of our infrastructure. IMO Pawlenty is remiss in purposely neglecting and underfunding this area. The voters have expressed their support for earmarking funds to address the inter-related transportation issues.
It is a huge undertaking. But when there are not even enough state inspectors to do a cursory bridge inspection, we have to really look hard at our priorities.
We are so lucky there were so few casualties in the 35W collapse. But we cannot depend on Divine Providence like that for every bridge, every highway, every interchange, every railroad that runs thru Minnesota just because Minnesotans are so darn nice.
{"commentId":1677610,"threadId":"239084","contentId":"1386033","authorDomain":"MinnieApolis"}
- 1 vote
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