# Interstate 35W bridge collapses in Minneapolis - Everyone ok? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 2, 2007, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interstate-35w-bridge-collapses-in-minneapolis-everyone-ok/414058 "2007-08-02T00:10:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2007, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interstate-35w-bridge-collapses-in-minneapolis-everyone-ok/414058/121 "2007-08-02T18:06:43Z")
[QUOTE=Wile E] Anyway, the I-35W bridge was a 60 foot drop and the bridge went down in sections carrying some of the cars with it so they did not bounce off. It seems that of those that bounced off into the water the impact wasn’t enough to kill them as many people were able to escape their cars and swim to safety. They said cars were piled on top of each other so maybe the first ones over weren’t so lucky. Also, visibility was good and traffic was slow giving some a chance to stop and escape, such as the school bus. [/QUOTE] Other factors affecting mortality would be speed of traffic at the time of the collapse. Whether the cars would be hitting anything or not on the span, if they’re in stop and go traffic, that’s that much less kinetic energy to dealt with when the car hits bottom than if the car were going 60 mph. And the weather is also a factor - having this happen in high summer is much better than in the middle of winter. I can’t point to any exact numbers, but it’s unlikely that hypothermia was a huge, immediate threat to those who survived the fall. Not knowing the river temps, I can’t say it’s not a factor for those who were trapped, but winter time water immesion can be fatal within five minutes IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2007, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interstate-35w-bridge-collapses-in-minneapolis-everyone-ok/414058/122 "2007-08-02T18:11:01Z")
My wife and my mother-in-law drove over that bridge, a few hours before it collapsed. On the way home from finding out my mother-in-law’s cancer has returned. ☹ Glad all the Minne-Dopers are OK. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/47e85d/32.png) [@Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Lance_Murdoch)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2007, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interstate-35w-bridge-collapses-in-minneapolis-everyone-ok/414058/123 "2007-08-02T18:25:01Z")
I just got back from looking at the scene on foot. It’s not much of a walk from where I work. The cops have everything cordoned off pretty tight so you can’t get too close. You can only catch glimpses of it here and there. It all seems so still. A kind of monument of death. There are police from as far away as Eden Prairie and the place is a media circus. Not only are the national crews here, but local stations from around the country are also on the scene. Helicopters are going around constantly. The person who sits next to me at work knows someone whose brother died, but no names have been officially released. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2007, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interstate-35w-bridge-collapses-in-minneapolis-everyone-ok/414058/124 "2007-08-02T21:53:46Z")
I had recieved a mailing for the Mississippi River Challenge. I decided against it because in conflicts with Tour da U.P. [http://www.teachingfamilyhomes.com/tourdaup/tourdaup07/index.php](http://www.teachingfamilyhomes.com/tourdaup/tourdaup07/index.php) The organizers haven’t decided what to do (other than cancel the Saturday paddle that would go under the bridge) Info on thier home page: > **[mississippiriverchallenge.org - This website is for...](http://ww16.mississippiriverchallenge.org/?sub1=20231101-1521-1789-8733-13b553f992b2)** > > This website is for sale! mississippiriverchallenge.org is your first and best source for all of the information you’re looking for. From general topics to more of what you would expect to find here, mississippiriverchallenge.org has it all. We hope... Brian ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2007, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interstate-35w-bridge-collapses-in-minneapolis-everyone-ok/414058/125 "2007-08-02T23:31:01Z")
did that area have some sort of ferry service before the bridges? i know the big miss is a very tough river with horrid currents, whirlpools, and rapids. not to mention the mud. not the clearest river in north america. i saw the same footage with the water fowl! that was utterly surreal. there were quite a few birds flying by in the helicopter shots. just a bit ago i could swear i saw a rat run across the bridge while contessa was reporting for msnbc. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2007, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interstate-35w-bridge-collapses-in-minneapolis-everyone-ok/414058/126 "2007-08-02T23:46:25Z")
[QUOTE=rocking chair] i know the big miss is a very tough river with horrid currents, whirlpools, and rapids. not to mention the mud. not the clearest river in north america. [/QUOTE] It’s nice and clear where it comes out of [lake Itasca](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Itasca); about 12 feet wide, burbling happily. You can wade across it. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2007, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interstate-35w-bridge-collapses-in-minneapolis-everyone-ok/414058/127 "2007-08-02T23:57:39Z")
the burbles won’t eat cha? ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2007, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interstate-35w-bridge-collapses-in-minneapolis-everyone-ok/414058/128 "2007-08-03T00:07:05Z")
I’ve been wondering what will be done about all the other bridges nationwide that need to be replaced before they fall. Isn’t there a Federal fund set up for the upkeep of roads and bridges nationwide? I had heard somewhere there was, but that funds were rarely doled out from it. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2007, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interstate-35w-bridge-collapses-in-minneapolis-everyone-ok/414058/129 "2007-08-03T00:08:41Z")
[QUOTE=Squink] You can wade across it. [/QUOTE] You should have seen him down here in [1927](http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/flood-7.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/47e85d/32.png) [@Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Lance_Murdoch)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2007, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interstate-35w-bridge-collapses-in-minneapolis-everyone-ok/414058/130 "2007-08-03T00:32:51Z")
[QUOTE=rocking chair] did that area have some sort of ferry service before the bridges? i know the big miss is a very tough river with horrid currents, whirlpools, and rapids. not to mention the mud. not the clearest river in north america. i saw the same footage with the water fowl! that was utterly surreal. there were quite a few birds flying by in the helicopter shots. just a bit ago i could swear i saw a rat run across the bridge while contessa was reporting for msnbc. [/QUOTE] Ferry Service - no. Dirty - Not too bad at Mpls. Gets worse as it goes south. Rat - Maybe, but rats are not a common sight in this town, especially in the river. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2007, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interstate-35w-bridge-collapses-in-minneapolis-everyone-ok/414058/131 "2007-08-03T01:03:09Z")
As narrow and turbulent as it looks there, I would expect it to be deep and difficult for divers. How did they estimate the number of missing, people families asked about, the number of cars that went into the water? ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2007, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interstate-35w-bridge-collapses-in-minneapolis-everyone-ok/414058/132 "2007-08-03T01:41:38Z")
[QUOTE=Zabali\_Clawbane] I’ve been wondering what will be done about all the other bridges nationwide that need to be replaced before they fall. Isn’t there a Federal fund set up for the upkeep of roads and bridges nationwide? I had heard somewhere there was, but that funds were rarely doled out from it. [/QUOTE] According to NPR the Highway Fund had it’s budget cut by nearly $100 billion and that states tend to spend the money they get from it on things like expansion, rather than maintence, since that’s “sexier.” The tab, _just to fix the bridges known to be in need of replacement_, comes out to $9billion/yr, for the next 20 years. Or $180 billion _now_. Or $3.42 billion a week, to use a pricing scheme we’re all somewhat familiar with. ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2007, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interstate-35w-bridge-collapses-in-minneapolis-everyone-ok/414058/133 "2007-08-03T02:30:21Z")
[QUOTE=carnivorousplant] As narrow and turbulent as it looks there, I would expect it to be deep and difficult for divers. [/QUOTE] Actually not so. The Mighty miss aint that mighty up here. Channels are dredged for even barge traffic, and barges don’t have much for draft. from the Strib > [@](#): > > The river at the site of the bridge collapse is about 400 feet wide and ranges from 3 to 11 feet deep, Bauer said. Because of the drought across much of the state, the Mississippi is flowing at only about 15 percent of normal, At that point, just past the locks at St. Anthony, the river is mostly shallow except for a pretty deep channel on one side carved out both by dredging to the lock entrance, and current. On top of that, the Army Corps of engineers is tweaking the water levels by as much as two feet during the recovery efforts. The current, on the other hand, is a bear. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2007, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interstate-35w-bridge-collapses-in-minneapolis-everyone-ok/414058/134 "2007-08-03T03:05:36Z")
[QUOTE=NurseCarmen] The Mighty miss aint that mighty up here. [/QUOTE] The Father of Waters swimming pool depth? The mind boggles. It’s 200 feet deep at New Orleans. I do hope that makes recovery easier. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2007, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interstate-35w-bridge-collapses-in-minneapolis-everyone-ok/414058/135 "2007-08-03T03:10:57Z")
I mostly agree with **Nurse Carmen**. If not for the dredging, you could just about walk across the river in that area. Presently, even the current isn’t that strong. I’ve stood in the same current downstream fishing in water up to my waist as recently as last wekend, and it was no big deal. And this in an area more constricted (and therefore in a faster current) than in downtown Minneapolis. I guess it’s a good thing that Jim Oberstar chairs the Transportation Committee in the US House. He drafted and cleared a bill through his committee in one day, and it will go before the full House tomorrow. It should get fast tracked through the Senate before they adjourn. It’s for $350,000,000.00. The total cost to rebuild the bridge will be born by the federal government. ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2007, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interstate-35w-bridge-collapses-in-minneapolis-everyone-ok/414058/136 "2007-08-03T03:19:55Z")
Some really good photos here. [http://www.mndaily.com/collapse](http://www.mndaily.com/collapse) ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2007, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interstate-35w-bridge-collapses-in-minneapolis-everyone-ok/414058/137 "2007-08-03T03:27:49Z")
[QUOTE=NurseCarmen] Some really good photos here. [http://www.mndaily.com/collapse](http://www.mndaily.com/collapse) [/QUOTE] [Picture 46](http://www.mndaily.com/collapse/index.php?photo=46) is interesting. Which side of the river is that on? ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2007, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interstate-35w-bridge-collapses-in-minneapolis-everyone-ok/414058/138 "2007-08-03T03:34:47Z")
No doubt there are some lawyers out there who have just put a down payment on a new Ferrari in anticipation of a spike in the lawsuit business. ---
**Author:** ![Kakofonous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e9a140/32.png) [@Kakofonous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kakofonous)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2007, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interstate-35w-bridge-collapses-in-minneapolis-everyone-ok/414058/139 "2007-08-03T03:38:51Z")
[QUOTE=Squink] [Picture 46](http://www.mndaily.com/collapse/index.php?photo=46) is interesting. Which side of the river is that on? [/QUOTE] That’s on the east bank (really the north end of the bridge). It’s looking west. That little white roof that’s sticking up in the middle is the top of a small UofMN research building. The black smoke stacks are the U steam plant. ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2007, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interstate-35w-bridge-collapses-in-minneapolis-everyone-ok/414058/140 "2007-08-03T03:41:02Z")
[QUOTE=Squink] [Picture 46](http://www.mndaily.com/collapse/index.php?photo=46) is interesting. Which side of the river is that on? [/QUOTE] That looks like it’s on the ‘U’ side of the river, across from downtown. Upon review, I am too slow. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interstate-35w-bridge-collapses-in-minneapolis-everyone-ok/414058.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interstate-35w-bridge-collapses-in-minneapolis-everyone-ok/414058.md?page=8)