Wednesday, August 08, 2007
A week later, Strib on publicly available reports
A week later, reporting on MN/DOT's reports.
State bridge inspectors warned for nearly a decade before its collapse that the Interstate 35W bridge had "severe" and "extensive" corrosion of its beams and trusses, "widespread cracking" in spans and missing or broken bolts.
Not only was the superstructure in poor condition, but certain components were "beyond tolerable limits," and one of the bridge's piers had "tilted to the north," they reported.
By 2000, the inspectors wrote that "eventual replacement of the entire structure would be preferable" to redecking the bridge. They added: "If bridge replacement is significantly delayed, the bridge should be re-decked."
That recommendation was repeated in every report afterward, but it never happened.
Labels: I-35 bridge, Minneapolis bridge, transportation
// posted by Erik @ 8/08/2007 07:33:00 AM
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