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On
August 1, 2007, the I-35 W Bridge in Minneapolis collapsed into the
Mississippi River, killing 13 people. The National Transportation
Safety Board identified a design miscalculation by a private engineering
firm which resulted in 16 gusset plates being installed at half of the
required thickness. Gusset plates connect steel beams at joints on the
bridge. A design-build contract was awarded without competitive bidding
to a firm at a price of $57 million above the low bid (and the
Engineer’s Estimate). The firm was allowed 70 additional days to
complete the work, even though it cost travelers $400,000 per day for
each day of delay. Then, Minnesota awarded the firm up to $27 million
for completing the project early. The bridge was opened to traffic in
mid-September 2008.
NTSB
Executive Summary - Highway Accident Report
5/1/2008 - The New York Times -
Fund Set for Bridge Collapse Victims
3/18/2008 –
CNN.com –
Report: Tons of Rock, Sand piled on Bridge Just Before Collapse
1/21/2008 - ENR -
NTSB Finds Fractured Gussets in I-35 Span
1/15/2008 - NY Times -
Faulty Design Led to Minnesota Bridge Collapse, Inquiry Finds
12/19/2007 - TwinCities.com - I35W Bridge Collapse/Panel OKs
Legislative Probe of MnDOT
12/5/2007 - BusinessWire -
Iteris Awarded Contract for I-35W Bridge Replacement in Minneapolis
11/21/2007 - TwinCities.com -
Evidence Suggests Metal Fatigue is Not to blame for I-35W Disaster -
or that MnDOT's Oversight Was Lax
10/31/2007
– TwinCities.com – Plaintiffs Vow to Keep I-35W Bridge Suit Alive
Despite Judge’s Ruling
10/26/2007
– Stateline.org –
After Tragedy, Political Resolve Collapses
Video
footage of the collapse from Mn/DOT traffic camera 628 (wmv
file)
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