On CNN's website (which was last updated 15 minutes ago) it's still at 3 dead for certain. Terrible.

I don't get why people are crying terrorism, do you really think everything in this country is infallible? Mistakes happen. Accidents happen. That's the kind of reality we live in, it's time we all get used to it.

Hopefully the rains coming in don't do much.

Edit: How is this related to HAARP? Seriously. I know we're here to deny ignorance but we really need to stop and look: Are there any advantages for any home grown organization at this point to collapse a bridge? Especially in such a minor way? (yes, I said it, call me heartless or whatever).

[edit on 1-8-2007 by Donoso]

That is a perfectly normal weather front. What looks weird about it to you? Please, don't try to deflect blame away from the MnDoT by claiming crazy HARP theories. Some very important people are to blame for this and most likely they will cover it up, blame the construction company, and get reelected to another term.

Jon

[edit on 8.1.2007 by Voxel]

I live in Minneapolis and have crossed this bridge countless times. This is the single largest artery of the Metro Area. Major Interstate crossing the great river.

Very suspicious how it happened during rush hour. This will affect billions of dollars in the local economy. There is a very active and large population of Islamists living here. The water under the bridge is completely open. I think a boat was exploded in a terrorist act. There will be hundreds dead. There will be graphic video and photos. It will be dramatic. Clouds of smoke with downtown Minneapolis in the background. This is the first of a series of attacks. Look for more strikes on infrastructure and symbols in the next few months.

Strange how the entire bridge came down, could this be a black op test run in advance of a larger bridge coming down? Michael Chertoff's gut did tell him that San Fransisco was a target this summer....

The speculation on MSNBC news after hearing from an eyewitness, is that a jackhammer was heard just before the collapse.

I ain't buying that one, a massive bridge and strong steel structure completely failed after a construction worker, doing road work used a jackhammer?

Bottom line, I believe it will be months before they are able to name a possible cause. And then of course how many will believe it?

Strange event, tragic, and a bit unsettling for those of us who may commute over bridges like this one on a daily basis.

Originally posted by NoSeeingI
Very suspicious how it happened during rush hour.

Absolutely! No one could possible think that a marginal structure would collapse during the period when it is MOST LOADED. Nah, logically all bridge collapses should happen during the 2am - 4am time period.

Originally posted by NoSeeingI
I think a boat was exploded in a terrorist act.

Yes, all those people who reported only hearing and feeling the vibration of a jackhammer prior to collapse must have been ignoring the huge bomb detonated below them. Hey, I know! Maybe the evil and magical "Islamist's" used silent bombs to blow the bridge up. Thats it! What will those masses of evil brown people think of next?

Jon

let me post it again... for those who are so "blind".

This bridge project has probably been the biggest disaster and headache for MnDOT officials and residents that have to cross the bridge. It was opened in 1960 but at the time, 35W only went as far as MN-13, a little over a mile past the bridge on the south side. Residents called it "The bridge to nowhere." By 1980 with fast growing suburbs south of the river, the 4 lane freeway had famous traffic jams. In 1984, a 3rd lane was added to each side, and a year later, it was discovered that there was a subsoil problem under the bridge/freeway, and the new lanes remained closed until the mid-1990s when the state found the money to complete the project. And while the bridge cannot flood, the causeway leading to the crossing at the north end is quite low and has flooded. In 2001, officials had to build temporary dykes, closing a lane on each side of the freeway, to prevent the river from flooding the freeway and making it impassible.

accident!!!!

I think the crosstown is a bit more of a headache.

zoom in a little more...

...there was a subsoil problem under the bridge...

Did a bridge collapse yesterday or Monday, with only one person confirmed dead? I hate to say that I really hope that happened, but I say that because if it didn't happen then that means I had an extremely vivid dream last night, about a bridge collapse, so vivid in fact that I thought it was real news. But then this came on this evening, and I keep waiting for them to reference the other bridge collapse two days ago, and they are not. Now I am really freaking out, I don't see the future, never have.

Was on the bridge an hour before the collapse... Glad I left work when I did.

Everything looked normal at that time. The construction workers were doing their thing and traffic was moving normally (for rush hour).

No more talk of terrorist attacks, please... This was a freak accident and nothing more. Why spread the fear, that's what they want you to do.

Mothman..... mothman mothman moth....
yeah, okay.
Besides, MSNBC is saying only one or two lanes were actually in operation at the time of the collapse.

Originally posted by UM_Gazz
The speculation on MSNBC news after hearing from an eyewitness, is that a jackhammer was heard just before the collapse.

I ain't buying that one, a massive bridge and strong steel structure completely failed after a construction worker, doing road work used a jackhammer?

.

They also made it very clear that Pile driving was also going on at the same time. Combine the two and presto no bridge

Traffic has been narrowed down to two lanes (each way) for the last couple of weeks, while the construction workers have been resurfacing the road.

Heard most injuries were from blunt trauma to the head. At least 10 of the children were treated that were in the school bus.

I don't think anyone is stating that the jackhammer(s) were the cause of the collapse. I think they're stating that's the last thing they heard before the structure failed. Some people connect two things which have nothing to do with each other because of the way it's said, some don't. It's common.

I am wondering if any members from the forum will have eye witness reports?
This is a terrible tragedy and it is just maddening to think of the bridge only being 40 years old.
I am so sorry for the families that are still waiting to hear information about their loved ones.
It was a structural collapse.
If 'your' loved ones were there you would not be joking about Mothman, show some respect.