Georgianne Nienaber: Author. Journalist.

MN Senators Klobuchar and Coleman Briefed about Bridge Collapse

In background for OPED News Senator Amy Klobuchar’s office said that the Senator is meeting with Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybek, Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters and Senator Norm Coleman at this time and Klobuchar will have another statement for OPED News later today.

“This tragedy hits so close to home – in fact, within a mile of my family’s home,” said Klobuchar , a former Hennepin County Attorney and long-time Minneapolis resident, in an official statement. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the many people affected by this evening’s shocking bridge collapse.

"Most importantly, we are grateful to the many first responders who have moved so quickly to help the victims of this unfortunate accident,” said Klobuchar. “On behalf of the entire Minnesota delegation, we are committed to working together to bring all available federal resources to bear in the wake of this tragedy.”

In an official statement, Minnesota Senators Norm Coleman and Amy Klobuchar sent their thoughts and prayers to the people of Minnesota, and pledge the full support of the federal government in the wake of tonight’s tragic bridge collapse in Minneapolis, MN. Senators Coleman and Klobuchar have been in constant contact with Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters, and will travel to Minneapolis with the Secretary in the morning to survey the damage and recovery efforts. They have pledged to ensure every available federal resource makes its way to Minnesota immediately, and to help the Minnesota Department of Transportation move forward.

“In light of today’s disaster, we send our thoughts and prayers to the victims and their families. This is a tragic day for the state, and must first focus on rescue and recovery. The people of Minnesota should know we will devote the full resources of the government in any way possible,” said Coleman. “The Secretary of Transportation assured me that a thorough and complete forensic investigation will be conducted, which I hope will produce a definitive answer as to why this unbelievable disaster has occurred. We must ensure that a catastrophe like the one that happened today never occurs again.”

Bridge Collapse: Possible Structural Issues

Minneapolis ABC Television outlet Channel 5 (KSTP) has reported that the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MNDot) conducted a study in 2006 which rated the I-35 bridge as “low to moderate” and stated that there was fatigue cracking of the deck. In addition, “there was out of plane bending of an approach span girder.”

This report was backed up by a statement from the White House, which said today, Thursday, that an inspection two years ago found structural deficiencies in the highway bridge that buckled during evening rush hour in Minneapolis.

White House press secretary Tony Snow said the Interstate 35W span rated 50 on a scale of 120 for structural stability.

"This doesn't mean there was a risk of failure, but if an inspection report identifies deficiencies, the state is responsible for taking corrective actions," he said. The bridge was 40 years old.

In a 2005 abstract, The Journal of Constructural Steel, says there is a complex interaction between bridge components (deck plate, ribs and floorbeams) and also by the interaction between the structure, the pavement and the vehicle’s wheels tires. “Stress concentration resulting from out-of-plane bending of deck components at typical welded joints can make these structures quite susceptible to traffic-induced fatigue cracks.”

There are two basic types of bending in bridge members: in-plane and out-of-plane. When in-plane bending occurs, the cross section of the support resists the load according to the design and undergoes nominal elastic deformation.

Out-of-plane bending implies that the cross section of the member is loaded in a plane other than that for which it was designed and undergoes significant elastic deformation or distortion, according to industry definitions.

In a press conference the evening of the collapse, Governor Tim Pawlenty stated that he saw reports from 2005 and 2006 that said the bridge was structurally intact.

Bridge Collapse Update: MN Department of Public Safety

OPED News has received the official and initial situation report from the Minnesota State Emergency Operations Center which MnDOT activated shortly after the I-35 bridge collapse.

Sources in the State Senate report, “We have no indications that terrorism is involved and we have no stepped up inspections of our critical bridges in response to the tragedy.”

"Since then we've had a request for structural engineers to meet with Minneapois officilas at 0800 on August 2 to assess the safety of standing structure. The incident is in recovery no longer in response phase," sources said.

The Situation Report #1 was released by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, on August 1, 2007 at 10:00 p.m.

“Rescue was conducted and all vehicles on the bridge have been cleared of people, The report said.
Incident Command is at the 10th Street Bridge, commanded by Minneapolis Fire.

There are approximately 75 fire fighting and 75 law enforcement units on scene, including collapse structure rescue and dive teams. Numerous city and county water craft are assisting, as well as a barge from the Corps of Engineers and 3 craft from the US Coast Guard. Sonar is being utilized to search in the water. The National Guard had a helicopter equipped with a hoist on scene and was released at 2115. The State Patrol is coordinating law enforcement assets from outside the City of Minneapolis.

Lights have been delivered to continue operations after dark. Iron workers are on the scene to consult regarding the bridge components.

60 children were on a school bus, some were taken to Hennepin County Medical Center, others were taken to the Red Cross building nearby. Some children have been reunited with their families. The Red Cross has established a Family Reception Center at the Holiday Inn Metrodome.

Contact has been made with FEMA staff in Chicago and Washington. The Pollution Control Agency is currently on scene and available for request regarding debris in the river. Another contractor is staged down river near Hidden Falls for oil recovery if needed. At this writing, no hazardous materials have been identified. A HazMat specialist is checking on railroad tanker under the collapsed bridge, but it is not believed to contain any hazardous materials

112 patients have been admitted to 3 different hospitals and Emergency Service response has been termed “adequate.”

I-35W is closed south from 280 and north from Interstate 94. The Federal Highway Administration has been contacted regarding traffic rerouting on this major artery.

The Federal Highway Administration Operations Center is activated at the Roseville Station and Staff is working on a long term detour plan and it will be communicated on cell phone 511.

The Transportation Security Agency (TSA) reports it is “Monitoring the situation, and the main concern is the highway traffic. The hopper cars trapped on the parallel track have no impact on rail traffic, that is a holding area.”

A US Coast Guard 25 foot response boat has arrived and two auxiliary boats are in the area and available. The Coast Guard reports it could offer a helicopter if it is needed.

There is some concern about possible damage to a fiber communications line below the bridge collapse area.