WASHINGTON (AP) -- Federal investigators have identified a design flaw as the cause of last year's Interstate 35W Minneapolis bridge collapse that killed 13 people, a congressional official said Tuesday.
Thirteen people died when the Interstate 35W bridge collapsed into the Mississippi River on August 1.
The official, who was briefed by the National Transportation Safety Board, said that investigators found a design flaw in the bridge's gusset plates, which are the steel plates that tie steel beams together.
The official spoke on the condition of anonymity so as not to pre-empt an update being provided later Tuesday by the NTSB chairman, Mark V. Rosenker.
I saw NTSB Chairman Rosenker on the News Hour and wasn't much impressed. Kind of a rube -- certainly not a tech person, and not a particularly convincing spokesperson.
Anybody seen a photo of the torn gusset plate(s) ? I assume the rivets (bolts ?) were able to tear from their holes because the material was too thin. . .?
The damaged structure of the I-35W bridge after it collapsed. Federal investigators have said a design flaw in the bridge's gusset plates was the major factor in its collapse. (Photo courtesy of MnDOT)
Kinda makes you want to be more careful with stuff you design, eh?
Minnesota Bridge Collapse
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Federal investigators have identified a design flaw as the cause of last year's Interstate 35W Minneapolis bridge collapse that killed 13 people, a congressional official said Tuesday.
Thirteen people died when the Interstate 35W bridge collapsed into the Mississippi River on August 1.
The official, who was briefed by the National Transportation Safety Board, said that investigators found a design flaw in the bridge's gusset plates, which are the steel plates that tie steel beams together.
The official spoke on the condition of anonymity so as not to pre-empt an update being provided later Tuesday by the NTSB chairman, Mark V. Rosenker.
Anyone know where I can get a link to watch the press conference @ 1:30 of Mark Rosenker via internet?
I guess one of the local networks is streaming it live
i hope this isnt the same design flaw that is on every other bridge built in our country...
Whoops, guess we can't blame it on the contractor!
Apparently they didn't calculate added stress/weight of renovations and equipment compared to the old max loads of the gusset plates.
ban bridges
I saw NTSB Chairman Rosenker on the News Hour and wasn't much impressed. Kind of a rube -- certainly not a tech person, and not a particularly convincing spokesperson.
Anybody seen a photo of the torn gusset plate(s) ? I assume the rivets (bolts ?) were able to tear from their holes because the material was too thin. . .?
It was actually the plates themselves that ripped, right in between the bolts.
Wow. Thanks.
The damaged structure of the I-35W bridge after it collapsed. Federal investigators have said a design flaw in the bridge's gusset plates was the major factor in its collapse. (Photo courtesy of MnDOT)
Kinda makes you want to be more careful with stuff you design, eh?
Indeed.
There was a pour going on when the bridge collapsed, I believe; at least one concrete truck was on deck, and other equipment.
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