Tragic Collapse Site Now Houses a Monumental Milestone

This article describes the extreme care that has gone into constructing the St. Anthony Falls Bridge, the new Interstate 35W bridge in Minneapolis that replaces the steel truss bridge that collapsed on August 1, 2007, killing 13 people. Quality control as well as community outreach designed to reassure the public have been important due to the collapse. Construction details, which have been checked and rechecked every step of the way, are aimed at removing any doubts about the bridge’s integrity. The authors describe the construction process, the role of Minnesota DOT and the design-build team, as well as an educational component for grade-school and college students that included visits by apprentice carpenters and journeymen, laborers and cement masons. The National Transportation Safety Board was scheduled to release its report on the old bridge’s collapse by the end of 2008.