Bridge Collapse

On August 1, 2007, bridge No. 9340 collapsed in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  Drivers had said that traffic was moving slowly across the bridge at 10mph because of lane closures when the 500 foot span collapsed.  Officials had said the fact that some lanes on the bridge were closed for resurfacing may have been a good thing; there were not as many cars on the bridge at the time of collapse that there could have potentially been.  Many vehicles still took a tremendous and fearsome plunge into the water below.  The bridge, Minnesota's busiest, had been described as "structurally deficient" by state bridge inspectors for at least 17 years, said the state and federal transportation officials.  Inspections and studies, however, provided no indication that the bridge was in danger of impending dangers.  According to the Minnesota Department of Transportation, the bridge was classified as "structurally deficient" since 1990.  This was due to corrosion in the bearings and steel around the bridge joints, as well as fatigue cracks in approach spans.  Numerous lives were taken the day of the bridge collapse as well as many injuries.

Last Updated: May 15, 2007
By: Heather G. and Adrienne M.