Bridge down

[Lady Hobbs]

How can that happen here in the states when bridges are supposed to be inspected? Or is this something like the levees that weren't replaced because we never have the money for stuff like that? Only billions to give to other countries.

[salman]

I hate it when countries don't use their money for their own country. Where i am, in Kuwait, They are limiting the electricity to all households, and all the extra electricity they are giving it to Iraq. They are going to start a new thing where we also get limited water. I might have to cut back on my 7 aquariums all needing 4 out lits and daily water changes. :P

[MeganL3985]

I heard they have known about some of the problems since the mid-90's.

[Chrona]

70,000 bridges in the US are marked as structurally deficient. Fact is that there simply isn't enough public outcry/funding until something happens. It's the way the US works.

[RobbieG]

The feds make billions of dollars available for the repairs but the states have to kick in a percentage.

The states just never get around to it - its like the levees in LA it was common knowledge for over fifty years that they could not handle a category five hurricaine.

In my state something like 70 percent of the bridges have the same rating as the one that just collapse - what do we spend our highway money on - a 15 billion dollar piece of crap leaky tunnel.

Just about everyone thats ever run for office in the state has said they were gonna do something about the bridges - but all we ever get is new ways to go places we could already get to.

[Kuli_Loach]

Are bridge here in Pocahontas AR is one of the oldest in AR. It is around 75ish. It has the same rating as the bridge that fell. We also have the oldest bridge in AR about 30 min. away that shakes as you cross it and it is all metal, I was told when the last guy painted it, he stated if anyone knew how many bolts and loops were missing, no one would drive across it.

[Lady Hobbs]

What you're all saying is true but what Chrona said hit it on the head. We never do anything until something terrible happens and then the cost is much higher than if the repairs had been made when it was needed.

Again this makes me think of even simple things that were ignored like locks on cockpit doors that was relatively cheap to do but never was done until after 9-11. The levees. Another blunder by the government. The Corp of Engineers had reported it would not hold up for years and years.

The US seems to have this mind set that "built it and it will stand.....forever."
The cement and steel that was used way back when these things were built would not hold up to the standard of todays materials.

I can see how states how a problem coming up with money with schools closing, trying to feed and supply medical aid to low income, etc. I know my state has been in the red for several years and our cut backs are with the schools, police, public housing, mentally ill and the agencies that seem to need it the most. Businesses are moving out because the governor has taxed them to death putting more on the unemployment line. Your states are probably about the same.

It just bugs me when sooooo much money goes overseas when it's needed here at home. We need to lend a helping hand but dang, we don't need to do it all.

[Drumachine09]

The bridge that collapsed WAS deemed strucurally deffficient i think 2 years ago (correct me if im wrong), but the government insisted it was ok.

[RobbieG]

I forget the exact term - but they had decided that it needed to be reinforced then postponed the reinforcement until after it got repaved.

[MeganL3985]

I forget the exact term - but they had decided that it needed to be reinforced then postponed the reinforcement until after it got repaved.

Weird...I would think it would need repaved after the reinforcement? Some people just do things bass ackwards I guess.

[RobbieG]

Repaving is quick & cheap - it makes it look like the politicians are actually doing something. Politicians need to look like they are doing something to be reelected.

The flip side of it is that whenever we drive by a road crew and can't tell what they are doing (and bridgework really does look like a whole lot of nothing) we are convinced they are wasting our tax money.

[NorthernBoy]

Actually what they were doing on the bridge was plateing the bridge. And structural deficient does not mean unsafe. Structurally deficient is an engineering term and was misused by the media. The reports that everyone is talking about do use this term as they are read and interpreted by and for engineers not the general public.

For example: If your car has a bent frame it is considered structurally deficient. But that doesn't stop many people from drive cars with bent frames.

I drove over this bridge often and never felt unsafe and I will continue to drive over bridges in MPLS even if they are STRUCTURALLY DEFICIENT. MNDOT (MN dept of Transportation) does a great job around here and have never hesitated in closing bridges/roads that were considered undsafe. Like the Hudson Bridge, Shakopee Bridge and numerous others.

The Media needs to educate itself before reporting which it has not done for this entire tragic event. I work in a Hospitol and was called in Wed. evening during the "code orange" for MPLS hopitols and the media was and still is incorrectly reporting numerous things including deaths and wounded.

[Lady Hobbs]

Thanks for clearing that up NB.