35w Bridge Collapses Over Mississippi River By Uofm @ 6:15pm (St. Paul: lawyers, school)

[Jim Stokes]

Major bridge collapse here right at rush hour. 35W Bridge collapsed over the Mississippi River by the University of Minnesota at 6:15 this evening, August 1st. TV here had great coverage, especially Channel 4. Had a zoom lens that got right into the wreckage at the bottom. One truck was set afire. Kids in a schoolbus evacuated ok.

No firm casualty count. People injured.

Workmen were working on the bridge nearer shore.

No terrorism or other sabotage reported at this time. I recall some 15 years ago that the Lake Street bridge across the Mississippi River from Mpls to St. Paul had a partial collapse.

Expect some legal action, obviously.

Nothing at all from the Mpls mayor or the governor. That's odd. Lawyers probably told them to shut up TFN,

[Jammie]

I was so glad to see there is already a thread started.

I have a co-worker who is trying to get a hold of his children who live over there. He's contacted all of them but one at this time.

To the people of Minnesota~just know that your neighbors in South Dakota are thinking about you and praying for you.

[kuan]

Oh crap. It's probably too optimistic to hope that nobody lost any loved ones tonight.

[Isaysos]

The news channels here in the cities are saying 1 dead but CNN is saying 3 dead. I hope the cities channels are right and they found no more fatalities. This is a truly sad and frightning event for the Twin Cities.

[ajf131]

Now the mayor says that 6 are dead. Makes you wonder how many other bridges are at risk of collapsing around this country...very very scary indeed.

[carolac]

I've been watching the news. I'm so sorry this happened. It could happen in any city that has a bridge like this. Many prayers going out to your city and people from here in Orlando.

[Jim Stokes]

Jamie, etal. One dead is what local news said.

This is a major screwup that WILL be investigated. Running through my mind is that with all the bridges we have and the extremes of temperature, this is the only Miss Bridge to have a mishap in 15 years or more. As I said, the Lake St Mpls to St. Paul bridge buckled at least that long ago.

Next big thing is getting the bridge inspectors on that bugger like STAT, even before the smoke clears. Sabotage comes to my mind right away with the whacky Iraquis destined for more war. Ohmygadzillion$$$$$ just got okay. China wisely wants real cash like now.

This bridge going down just didn't go down "from the heat," baby. And the heat IS on! Shoe-fly-pie and apple pan-dowdy!

Gov Pawlenty finally is coming on via phone. That was at 9pm. I'm been working upstairs since then.

[geoffs]

Death toll over seven with several cars still unsearched, crushed under concrete and under water! FOX news reporting over 50 cars in the river!

[ajf131]

Originally Posted by geoffs

Death toll over seven with several cars still unsearched, crushed under concrete and under water! FOX news reporting over 50 cars in the river!

Kinda makes me shiver about what it would be like if the Poplar Street Bridge in Downtown St. Louis collapsed into the river...we could be talking about to 100 deaths or more because the river's current is so strong here.

[Jammie]

We've seen a few pics of it on the internet. The highway that runs underneath a bit of the bridge~did the bridge fall on top of that, too? Also, it appears that a train was traveling underneath it and part of it was crushed.