New Photos Reveal Problems With Minnesota Bridge That Collapsed

Photos have been released showing problems with the Minneapolis bridge that collapsed August 1, 2007, killing 13 and wounded over 100 others. The photos, taken in 2003 [ed: corrected for date instead of range] by a consulting firm hired by the state DOT investigation, show gusset plates visibly bowing. The plates are key structural members that join together steel supports that make up the trusses that carry the bridge loads.

No action was taken at the time the photos were made. And you can be assured that the families of those who died in the collapse are wondering how and why no action was taken when the photos clearly show that something wasn't quite right with the bridge support systems.

Two photos, part of a report issued earlier this month by the National Transportation Safety Board, reveal slight bends in gusset plates that hold beams together at two separate connecting points. The plates are in areas believed to be among the first points of failure when the span collapsed.

The NTSB's Office of Highway Safety confirmed that the bowing is part of the investigation into why the bridge collapsed Aug. 1, the Star Tribune newspaper reported Sunday.

NTSB Chairman Mark Rosenker didn't comment on the photos, but has said the original design for the bridge specified steel for those and other gusset plates that was too thin.

NTSB spokesman Terry Williams told the Star Tribune the bowing is among "the many things that we are looking at as part of this investigation."

The newspaper said inspection records make no mention of repairs to the bending gusset plates.

Williams did not immediately respond to an Associated phone message seeking comment Sunday. State transportation department spokeswoman Lucy Kender also did not immediately respond to phone and e-mail messages.

The two photos are believed to have been taken by URS Inc., a San Francisco consulting firm the state hired to examine the bridge from 2003 to 2007.

"URS and the state have both got a lot of explaining to do as far as why (the bending) was not observed, and if it was observed, why that was not immediately investigated," James Schwebel, an attorney representing a group of victims, told the AP on Sunday. "How could it possibly have been missed?"

The structural load that the bridge was carrying was increased twice since it was built in 1967, most recently when concrete barriers were installed in 1998. Also, an additional 190 tons of construction materials was on the bridge at the time of the collapse.

Construction on the replacement span continues. The concrete piers that will carry the load across the Mississippi River are under construction, and the approaches to the bridge are also well underway, with a scheduled completion date of Christmas 2008. A schematic of the new bridge and how it is being built can be found here.