A Troubled Bridge Over Water: After I-35W Disaster, Minnesota and the U.S. Try to Sort Out Problems With Their Bridge Systems

This is one a series of articles focused on the rebuilding of the I-35W Bridge over the Mississippi River in Minneapolis in the wake of the August 2007 collapse of the eight-lane structure. The collapse destroyed more than half of the bridge, which was some 1,900 feet long. Of the 185 people on the deck when it collapsed, 13 were killed, and nearly three-quarters of the remainder were injured. Reactions to the disaster are outlined, starting with immediate rescue efforts, extending to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)'s sending a team three times larger than usual, arriving within hours of the collapse. The bridge, known as Bridge No. 9340, is now the focus of a widespread investigation into bridge safety in the U.S. overall. A Senate hearing was held, where it was reported that nearly one-third of urban bridges were classified as structurally deficient or functionally obsolete. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) announced an audit of its bridge inspection program and a review of documents guiding decisions about bridges' fitness. Future tasks include incorporating more accurate and timelier methods to assess bridge strength and monitor wear. The process by which a contractor was selected to build the new bridge is also described.