Holy Shit!
Posted by Andy on August 1st, 2007
One of Minnesota’s most heavily traveled highway bridges collapsed tonight into the Mississippi River.
Not only will this make commuting and getting around the Twin Cities a nightmare, but it is blocking the River.
Honestly, holy shit.
I do know that there was road work in the area if not on the bridge in the last few weeks. I haven’t been there for 3 or so weeks, so i can’t say if work was done on the bridge section or not.
I am amazed at the images on TV.
One reporter is saying as many as 50 or more cars may be affected, and by affected he meant they would have fallen a few hundred feet or so downward. there are cars in the river. I am sure lives were lost.
One bright spot was images of passersby who were helping rescue workers save people trapped in cars.
Holy shit!
Update:
Like we need anything else to deal with, I live about 12 miles due north of the area, and there is a big thunderstorm rolling in my way. We have had months of dry drought like weather, and well…. this is not a good time for this to happen.
I did see shots of construction equipment on part of the bridge, and even a few men in yellow vests, which leads me to believe that they were construction workers on the bridge as it collapsed. That fall must have been terrifying.
God please send a little hope our way in Minnesota for the victims, their families, and the brave and heroic people helping rescue survivors.
Update:
Here’s a map of the area for any outstate readers.
If you look at the 35W sign right as it crosses the Mississippi River, that is the area that is no longer there.
This is going to be devastating to the Twin Cities for a very very long time.
Update:
The thunder here in Blaine, just 12 miles north of the collapse is getting louder and closer. I hope the rescue crews are aware of the weather that could be headed their way. I did have a brief power flash here. If that river rises due to rain water, it will make this a nightmare.
Also KSTP just reported the FBI is being brought in “in case”. “These are the times” the anchor said. It did enter my mind that this could be terror, but I am suspect in the construction.
Update:
The rain just started at my house in Blaine. It looks like there is a big storm headed that way.
God be with us.
Update 7:29
It is raining very heavily here in Blaine with loud thunder.
Folks, not only will the slanted bridge decks get slippery in rain, but the sight is full of steel girders.
When it rains, it pours.
I hope someone is there has an eye on the sky.
Update 7:38
I just scanned the cable networks, and they are all covering this.
KSTP also reported that the rain here in Blain is headed that way, and will be there in 30 minutes.
A big lightning bolt just shot past my house.
Update 7:49PM
It is still pouring here 12 miles north of the area, and seems to be raining heavier.
Update 8:03 PM
It is still pouring rain here.
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August 1st, 2007 at 7:18 pm
Holy Moley is right. The pictures from KSTP’s chopper are surreal. I kept thinking “Is this terrorist-related?” just because you can’t rule it out. S-I-M-P-L-Y U-N-B-E-L-I-E-V-A-B-L-E!
August 1st, 2007 at 9:21 pm
The ONLY saving grace is that three of the 4 lanes in each direction were reportedly closed for the resurfacing project. Can you imagine how high the numbers would have been if the bridge had been FULL of cars?
LL
August 2nd, 2007 at 1:10 am
Don’t be too quick to label this a “terrorist” incident. The most likely explanation is that the thing wore out, maybe prematurely. This is not to say that a terrorist involvement is totally out of the question, but it’s less likely than plain old structural failure.
Whatever the cause, it plainly sucks. It’s bad enough for the poor sods who were on it at the time and were injured or killed, and my condolences go to them all; but it’s also horrible for the folks who have to use that bridge every day to go to work or school or whatever. It’s not so good either for the occasional traveler who won’t be using that route to go north or south.
A crappy day for everybody, all around.