Recovery suspended; Pawlenty calls for statewide bridge inspections

[babylonsister]

Recovery suspended; Pawlenty calls for statewide bridge inspections

By Herón Márquez Estrada, Tom Meersman, Jim Walsh, Pat Doyle, Star Tribune


Divers were pulled from the murky and fast-moving waters of the Mississippi River Thursday afternoon before any bodies could be recovered from the wreckage of Wednesday's I-35W bridge collapse.

At about the same time, Gov. Tim Pawlenty ordered an immediate inspection of all Minnesota bridges that have a design like the one that collapsed Wednesday in Minneapolis. Pawlenty said he did not know how many bridges have that design.

The eight-lane Interstate 35W bridge, a major Minneapolis artery, was in the midst of repairs when it buckled during the evening rush hour. Dozens of cars plummeted more than 60 feet into the Mississippi River, killing at least four people and injuring 79.

"We have one of the better or best bridge inspection programs in the country. ... However, that's little consolation when you have a horrific tragedy like this event," Pawlenty said. "The first thing we're going to do is make sure that we immediately inspect and check all bridges of this design and that fall into this category on the assessment scale."

Earlier, the federal government provided an immediate $5 million to Minneapolis to help deal with the logistics of dealing with the I-35W bridge disaster.

more...

http://www.startribune.com/10204/story/1339588.html

[rodeodance]

1. "Thursday afternoon, more of the bridge decking collapsed along the river."

it is a dangerous place to hunt for bodies


Thursday afternoon, more of the bridge decking collapsed along the river. No injuries were reported.

[snacker]

3. I'm not from Minneapolis,

but have visited our daughter there often. Isn't there a damn near that bridge, or am I mistaken?

[woodsprite]

2. He could read the last inspection reports - that may clue him in. n/t

[Ediacara]

4. Wouldn't focusing on the other problematic bridges be more productive?

It's not the design of this bridge that led to its failure necessarily, but problems with the actual materials and/or road construction activities.

[babylonsister]

5. I think if I had a missing relative, I'd want them focusing on recovery,

somehow, some way. Maybe there are sections of the bridge with cars under it they could eventually remove. I'm sure there's plenty to keep them busy.