Minneapolis members!

Please check in!

I just saw the news about the bridge collapsing.

I can't believe how awful it is. It looks like an earthquake or a bomb went off.

It's just awful.

Please check in.

Minneapolis is about 90 minutes from where I live and I travel there frequently -- that highway had been under construction for a long time.

I am about to go call my friends there and hope any PC member who lives there is OK.

Candy

I just came from there from my school residency and I walked on that bridge almost daily...my prayers and best wishes to those who are involved

The speculation is that construction work brought it down. It seems much bigger than that.

Yeah, they were working on it when I walked through, I even joked with my friend about it that it seemed like they only made noise (and worked on it) while we were walking on it...as soon as we were off of it, it seemed to stop.

Wish everyone was all right...

Even though we've not seen or heard from Shaymus.. he is from there also. I hope he is ok too along with any other PC members.. My thoughts and prayers are with you guys!!

(((((((((( All in Minneapolis ))))))))))

Jan

It was an old bridge (40 years or so) and they've been working on it forever ... I don't doubt the construction work brought it down. No reason to think it was anything more sinister.

Up in this part of the world we have a saying about the 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter, and road construction. Believe me, it holds true in Mpls! I haven't been there in probably the last 5 or 6 years where SOME highway hasn't been in the midst of work!

(((((((((((((((((Minneapolis))))))))))))))))))

(((((((((((((((((Minneapolis))))))))))))))))))

(((((((((((((((((Minneapolis))))))))))))))))))

How devastating! (((((((((((((((((Minneapolis))))))))))))))))))

(((((((((Minneapolis)))))))))))

I'm here. Family is safe. We use the bridge nearly everyday.
My son drove over it eariler in the a.m. with 30 tons of trash on the truck. He said everything was ok at that time.

BTW 40 years is not old in bridge life, however we have brutal winters here and are in the heat of a hot summer. Temps in excess of 90 degrees for the past 20 days.

Our roads explode every summer in the heat. It is a major castistrophic event for the entire state.

(((((((((Minneapolis)))))))))))

Having a bit of engineering background...I think unfortunately written documentation will come out that will show that some years ago a problem was noticed...could be a defect in the way it was welded or had the wrong strength of bolts...or the steel itself was not up to specks...the list goes on...

It's kind of like the space shuttle Challenger...a tragic loss that didn't need to occur...documentation came out that the engineers knew about the o-ring issue and gas blow bye...they even knew what temperatures it would be unsafe to lauch at...Nasa launched in spite of the engineers telling them that it was to cold...I forget all the details...it was part of my ethics class for my engineering degree...discussing cases where you are faced with an ethical issue and what you would do...

I'm a little off topic and I don't want to protray anyone being evil or bad...just know that this stuck in the back of my mind...

I have listened to the news, and of the missing people, and it's grim.
I am dismayed by the news of the aging "infrastructure" of the US! I wish more money would be put into this than into military upbuild!
Patty

Seeker,

All they have to do is stop the special interest spending, and we will have enough money to fix our roads and bridges.

EJ

I just joined, but I am in Minneapolis and I'm just fine. I was in Dinkytown when it happened. I saw a cloud of smoke and I said to my boyfriend, "Let's go see what's burning!" since we thought it was just a fire. When we got down by the river we saw what had happened. It was an eye-opening thing to witness, that's for sure. We could see the rescue effort as it happened. Sent shudders down my spine, it did.

(((( All Minneapolis members ))))

It's tough to see it on the news. It could've been one of our members or their families. You just never know.

Thanks for checking in everyone.

Yeah, it kept hitting home when they would mention "Dinkytown" and "Washington Avenue" and the Metrodome...I probably have been there like 10 times, so it is almost like another hometown

I think at the moment we are all transplanted Minnesotans..

I'm in Australia, and it's been all through the news and papers. It's an absolute tragedy. These sort of things seem to be happening more and more lately. It's sad.

my very 1st thought when I saw it on the news was for our PC members.
So glad to hear so far that ppl from here are ok
(((((minneapolis)))))

God bless everyone involved in this tragedy..and pc members..thanks for letting us know that you're ok......

My heart goes out to all... it could happen to any of us who drive or ride

When my oldest brother took vacation from his Iraqi job, he was hired by the US Gov to inspect the bridges in the USA. I think, from what mom says, he didn't find any that were in good shape. This would have been done (inspections) the year of Katrina and right after I think. We expect our local (State) governments to keep our bridges safe for us, but someone --or maybe someoneS- are not doing their job.