The new 35W bridge. (hotel, dangerous, vehicles)

[asitshouldbe]

Did anyone else go over the bridge today. I had a slight anxiety attack just before crossing but it went away as soon as I saw how nice the new bridge looked. I think the exterior retaining walls seem a little short though.

[K-Luv]

Originally Posted by asitshouldbe

Did anyone else go over the bridge today.

No. But I moved out of MPLS two days before the bridge collapsed. Fast forward two days and I was in Massachusetts going over a pretty scenic bridge when I got a weird feeling that I did not want to be on that bridge. An hour later I checked into a hotel just outside of Boston, turned on the TV almost as soon I entered the room, and lo and behold, the tv was tuned to CNN and the coverage of the collapse. I seriously believe that it is some sort of sign.

[BORGUSX]

I thought that the bridge was suppose to open next year!

[Clifford63]

Originally Posted by asitshouldbe

Did anyone else go over the bridge today. I had a slight anxiety attack just before crossing but it went away as soon as I saw how nice the new bridge looked. I think the exterior retaining walls seem a little short though.

I came across it yesterday and today from the North. I use 3rd ave bridge to get out of downtown. Traffic patterns are going back to normal again. Now if they just finish all the stuff they have ripped up all over downtown.

[AriEsStaR*]

Originally Posted by BORGUSX

I thought that the bridge was suppose to open next year!

Nope the bridge actually opened yesturday. It took a year to build it though.

[chilaili]

Originally Posted by BORGUSX

I thought that the bridge was suppose to open next year!

They finished 3 months ahead of schedule

[JenLee]

I''ve been across it 3 times already. I really like the exterior retaining walls; the old 35W bridge once had lower rails and somewhere about 10-12 years ago they made them higher and ruined the view of the river for those of us who drove regular passenger vehicles.

I'm not really looking at the view while driving; but we should be able to see the Mississippi River when we cross it. Some bridges cut us off from our surroundings too much: no wonder people think they need to be "entertained" while in cars!

[Astron1000]

I and some friends got up very early to cross it at 5 am. We were just behind a phalanx of motorcycles, near the front of the line. It was quite the spectacle!

[BillyB]

This sounds dumb, but I got a weird deja vu feeling driving that route again, after not having for 14 months

[Camden Northsider]

Originally Posted by JenLee

I''ve been across it 3 times already. I really like the exterior retaining walls; the old 35W bridge once had lower rails and somewhere about 10-12 years ago they made them higher and ruined the view of the river for those of us who drove regular passenger vehicles.

I'm not really looking at the view while driving; but we should be able to see the Mississippi River when we cross it. Some bridges cut us off from our surroundings too much: no wonder people think they need to be "entertained" while in cars!

I also thought the view (looking North esp) was great; but I have to admit that the guard rails did seem a little dangerously low for such a heavy traffic interstate bridge (like less-than-waist height?). I don't know why they didn't continue the metal railing (keeping space in between to keep the view) up another 5 feet or so.