Comments on: Did Climate Change Contribute To The Minneapolis Bridge Collapse? http://climateprogress.org/2007/08/06/did-climate-change-contribute-to-the-minneapolis-bridge-collapse/ The Latest on Climate Science, Solutions, and Politics Sun, 08 Nov 2009 12:18:00 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Ron http://climateprogress.org/2007/08/06/did-climate-change-contribute-to-the-minneapolis-bridge-collapse/#comment-6117 Ron Fri, 12 Oct 2007 20:09:49 +0000 http://climateprogress.org/2007/08/06/did-climate-change-contribute-to-the-minneapolis-bridge-collapse/#comment-6117 Update on the bridge. No global warming damage indicated, but much bureaucratic ineptitude - http://www.newsinferno.com/archives/1881 Minneapolis Bridge Collapse Puts MNDOT under Microscope, as State Lawmakers Call for Probe of Agency Date Published: Thursday, October 4th, 2007 Members of the Minnesota State Legislature want an independent investigation into the August 1 Minneapolis Bridge collapse. Some state lawmakers are pushing for the appointment of a special investigator who would focus specifically on the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s (MNDOT) decision making process prior to the collapse of the I-35 W Bridge. The I-35 W Bridge collapsed on August 1, at 6:05 p.m. It was the height of Minneapolis’ evening rush hour, and cars were lined up bumper-to- bumper across the span. At least 88 vehicles and hundreds of people fell 60 feet into the Mississippi River below. Thirteen people died and at least 100 others were injured. It would be nearly three weeks before the final victim of the Minneapolis Bridge Collapse was pulled from the river. Members of the Minnesota legislature say they want the state to hire an outside investigator and staff to probe MNDOT’s actions leading up to the Minneapolis Bridge Collapse. According to MNDOT records, the agency was so concerned about structural deficiencies on the I-35 W Bridge that officials there actually considered replacing it. And last winter, MNDOT even considered a plan to bolt steel plates to the supports of the 40-year-old I-35W bridge to prevent fatigued areas from cracking. But some in the agency were concerned that such repairs would only serve to weaken the 40 year old bridge even more. Instead, MNDOT decided to submit the Minneapolis Bridge to more frequent inspections, rather than replacing or repairing the structure. The I-35W Bridge was last inspected in June 2006. That report noted fatigue cracks in the sections leading to the river, one of which was 4 feet long. That crack was eventually reinforced with a steel plate. An inspection did begin earlier this year, but was put on hold when construction began to repair the I-35W Bridge’s surface. Now, Minnesota lawmakers want to know why MNDOT did not take more aggressive action in dealing with the aging I-35 W Bridge. Several legislators supporting the funding of a new probe have said that if hired, an investigator would function similar to an independent council, and that the person would have funds available to hire a staff. If approved, the independent investigator’s probe would be just one of multiple investigations looking into the Minneapolis Bridge collapse. The National Transportation Safety Board is currently investigating the disaster, but will not have a report for at least a year. The state has already hired an independent consultant to probe the bridge collapse, but it will look at all contributing factors, not just MNDOT’s role in the disaster. Update on the bridge. No global warming damage indicated, but much bureaucratic ineptitude -

http://www.newsinferno.com/archives/1881

Minneapolis Bridge Collapse Puts MNDOT under Microscope, as State Lawmakers Call for Probe of Agency
Date Published: Thursday, October 4th, 2007
Members of the Minnesota State Legislature want an independent investigation into the August 1 Minneapolis Bridge collapse. Some state lawmakers are pushing for the appointment of a special investigator who would focus specifically on the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s (MNDOT) decision making process prior to the collapse of the I-35 W Bridge.

The I-35 W Bridge collapsed on August 1, at 6:05 p.m. It was the height of Minneapolis’ evening rush hour, and cars were lined up bumper-to- bumper across the span. At least 88 vehicles and hundreds of people fell 60 feet into the Mississippi River below. Thirteen people died and at least 100 others were injured. It would be nearly three weeks before the final victim of the Minneapolis Bridge Collapse was pulled from the river.

Members of the Minnesota legislature say they want the state to hire an outside investigator and staff to probe MNDOT’s actions leading up to the Minneapolis Bridge Collapse. According to MNDOT records, the agency was so concerned about structural deficiencies on the I-35 W Bridge that officials there actually considered replacing it. And last winter, MNDOT even considered a plan to bolt steel plates to the supports of the 40-year-old I-35W bridge to prevent fatigued areas from cracking. But some in the agency were concerned that such repairs would only serve to weaken the 40 year old bridge even more.

Instead, MNDOT decided to submit the Minneapolis Bridge to more frequent inspections, rather than replacing or repairing the structure. The I-35W Bridge was last inspected in June 2006. That report noted fatigue cracks in the sections leading to the river, one of which was 4 feet long. That crack was eventually reinforced with a steel plate. An inspection did begin earlier this year, but was put on hold when construction began to repair the I-35W Bridge’s surface.

Now, Minnesota lawmakers want to know why MNDOT did not take more aggressive action in dealing with the aging I-35 W Bridge. Several legislators supporting the funding of a new probe have said that if hired, an investigator would function similar to an independent council, and that the person would have funds available to hire a staff.

If approved, the independent investigator’s probe would be just one of multiple investigations looking into the Minneapolis Bridge collapse. The National Transportation Safety Board is currently investigating the disaster, but will not have a report for at least a year. The state has already hired an independent consultant to probe the bridge collapse, but it will look at all contributing factors, not just MNDOT’s role in the disaster.

]]> By: Rajinder Sandhir http://climateprogress.org/2007/08/06/did-climate-change-contribute-to-the-minneapolis-bridge-collapse/#comment-6054 Rajinder Sandhir Tue, 09 Oct 2007 04:02:30 +0000 http://climateprogress.org/2007/08/06/did-climate-change-contribute-to-the-minneapolis-bridge-collapse/#comment-6054 Bridges are built to withstand expansion due to heat. The safety factor taken is normally ten times the anticipated maximum temperature. Even if pushed to more stress than can be taken by designed structure, the steel members yield. They will deform before collapsing. The bridge simply collapsed. Prestressed bolts used in the gusset plates or the plates themselves may have fractured due to faulty design and or sub-standard materails leading to shearing of bolts and or plates. Only such an event could have led to the catastrophic collapse. One would like to see the report on analysis, microscopic examination and physical testing of bolts and plates to conclusively prove the hypothesis. Bridges are built to withstand expansion due to heat. The safety factor taken is normally ten times the anticipated maximum temperature. Even if pushed to more stress than can be taken by designed structure, the steel members yield. They will deform before collapsing. The bridge simply collapsed.
Prestressed bolts used in the gusset plates or the plates themselves may have fractured due to faulty design and or sub-standard materails leading to shearing of bolts and or plates. Only such an event could have led to the catastrophic collapse.
One would like to see the report on analysis, microscopic examination and physical testing of bolts and plates to conclusively prove the hypothesis.

]]> By: white dan http://climateprogress.org/2007/08/06/did-climate-change-contribute-to-the-minneapolis-bridge-collapse/#comment-5759 white dan Fri, 21 Sep 2007 01:42:17 +0000 http://climateprogress.org/2007/08/06/did-climate-change-contribute-to-the-minneapolis-bridge-collapse/#comment-5759 alo alo

]]> By: Alan McIntire http://climateprogress.org/2007/08/06/did-climate-change-contribute-to-the-minneapolis-bridge-collapse/#comment-5475 Alan McIntire Mon, 03 Sep 2007 18:23:23 +0000 http://climateprogress.org/2007/08/06/did-climate-change-contribute-to-the-minneapolis-bridge-collapse/#comment-5475 I suspect that freezing and thawing would be more important factors in weakening a structure than temperature increases of 2/3 degrees C. Since a majority of the warming would be at night, and in the winter, there'd be less freezing with global warming, and a lesser temperature gradient between day and night and summer and winter. The net effect of global warming would be less stress on structures- I suspect that freezing and thawing would be more important factors in weakening a structure than temperature increases of 2/3 degrees C. Since a majority of the warming would be at night, and in the winter, there’d be less freezing with global warming, and a lesser temperature gradient between day and night and summer and winter. The net effect of global warming would be less stress on structures-

]]> By: Warfare http://climateprogress.org/2007/08/06/did-climate-change-contribute-to-the-minneapolis-bridge-collapse/#comment-5083 Warfare Tue, 14 Aug 2007 20:31:54 +0000 http://climateprogress.org/2007/08/06/did-climate-change-contribute-to-the-minneapolis-bridge-collapse/#comment-5083 The real problem is the socialised roadways. You notice that it was not the roof of a Walmart (or any other commercial structure) that collapsed even though they would have to go through the same weather changes as the bridge. The real problem is the socialised roadways. You notice that it was not the roof of a Walmart (or any other commercial structure) that collapsed even though they would have to go through the same weather changes as the bridge.

]]> By: Eldred http://climateprogress.org/2007/08/06/did-climate-change-contribute-to-the-minneapolis-bridge-collapse/#comment-5051 Eldred Sat, 11 Aug 2007 22:51:25 +0000 http://climateprogress.org/2007/08/06/did-climate-change-contribute-to-the-minneapolis-bridge-collapse/#comment-5051 Why not just wait for the engineers investigating the bridge collapse to find out why the bridge collapsed? Googling and asking a friend and then assuming that because "lots of people think the heat may have contributed" you have a reason smacks of the GW alarmists' typical modus operandi, i.e. forcing your "data" to fit your theory and overlooking or downplaying anything that doesn't. The NTSB has not ruled out that overconsumption of trans fats in the Minneapolis area might have contributed, either. It is not its job to "rule out" every single noncontributive factor. Why not just wait for the engineers investigating the bridge collapse to find out why the bridge collapsed? Googling and asking a friend and then assuming that because “lots of people think the heat may have contributed” you have a reason smacks of the GW alarmists’ typical modus operandi, i.e. forcing your “data” to fit your theory and overlooking or downplaying anything that doesn’t.

The NTSB has not ruled out that overconsumption of trans fats in the Minneapolis area might have contributed, either. It is not its job to “rule out” every single noncontributive factor.

]]> By: clover-girl http://climateprogress.org/2007/08/06/did-climate-change-contribute-to-the-minneapolis-bridge-collapse/#comment-5048 clover-girl Fri, 10 Aug 2007 18:25:34 +0000 http://climateprogress.org/2007/08/06/did-climate-change-contribute-to-the-minneapolis-bridge-collapse/#comment-5048 Mother nature is angry with us, and that's a fact. We have become like a virus to Her. The meek, humble and true Believers will be the ones who inherit the Earth from the Deniers and Destroyers. Many people will die before balance is restored. Mother nature is angry with us, and that’s a fact. We have become like a virus to Her.

The meek, humble and true Believers will be the ones who inherit the Earth from the Deniers and Destroyers.

Many people will die before balance is restored.

]]> By: gmischol http://climateprogress.org/2007/08/06/did-climate-change-contribute-to-the-minneapolis-bridge-collapse/#comment-5040 gmischol Fri, 10 Aug 2007 09:09:42 +0000 http://climateprogress.org/2007/08/06/did-climate-change-contribute-to-the-minneapolis-bridge-collapse/#comment-5040 It's just sad, that temperature in the 30's and 40's have been higher, and no brigde collapsed!?! It's so easy to blame AGW for everything when just may have done sloppy work (building or surveyance of bridges) It’s just sad, that temperature in the 30’s and 40’s have been higher, and no brigde collapsed!?!
It’s so easy to blame AGW for everything when just may have done sloppy work (building or surveyance of bridges)

]]> By: Ron http://climateprogress.org/2007/08/06/did-climate-change-contribute-to-the-minneapolis-bridge-collapse/#comment-5037 Ron Thu, 09 Aug 2007 22:57:42 +0000 http://climateprogress.org/2007/08/06/did-climate-change-contribute-to-the-minneapolis-bridge-collapse/#comment-5037 Oh my gosh, it's happening all over! There's another one down! Everybody stop exhaling! Bridge Under Construction Collapses in Arizona 2007-08-09 01:25pm A section of overpass under construction in Arizona collapsed Thursday morning, less than a week after a bridge full of cars collapsed in Minneapolis. No one was injured when a section of the Loop 202 Red Mountain Freeway bridge fell to the ground in east Mesa, a suburb of Phoenix. Crews were immediately on the scene and officials have already begun examining why several girders in one section of the bridge plunged to the ground. Holly Hosac, a spokeswoman for the Mesa Police Department, said a steel girder failed, "which essentially created a domino effect." Oh my gosh, it’s happening all over! There’s another one down! Everybody stop exhaling!

Bridge Under Construction Collapses in Arizona
2007-08-09 01:25pm

A section of overpass under construction in Arizona collapsed Thursday morning, less than a week after a bridge full of cars collapsed in Minneapolis.

No one was injured when a section of the Loop 202 Red Mountain Freeway bridge fell to the ground in east Mesa, a suburb of Phoenix.

Crews were immediately on the scene and officials have already begun examining why several girders in one section of the bridge plunged to the ground.

Holly Hosac, a spokeswoman for the Mesa Police Department, said a steel girder failed, “which essentially created a domino effect.”

]]> By: Ade http://climateprogress.org/2007/08/06/did-climate-change-contribute-to-the-minneapolis-bridge-collapse/#comment-5036 Ade Thu, 09 Aug 2007 22:55:32 +0000 http://climateprogress.org/2007/08/06/did-climate-change-contribute-to-the-minneapolis-bridge-collapse/#comment-5036 Global average temperatures have, it seems, reached (approximately) a haitus. Since the "record" 1998 temperatures have been proven to be in error, shifting the hottest year on record back to 1934, I can't help but wonder if global warming (and, specifically, anthropogenic global warming) have been vastly overstated in order to allow Governments to apply more taxes. The reason for the lateness of the Bush administration to the GW Tax Party further, I shall leave to those more qualified than I to comment (i.e. Americans). Nevertheless, the US seems to have bridge collapses - and some fairly spectacular ones at that - on a depressingly regular basis. I guess this one is big news because it's a major bridge on a major interstate, it occurred during rush-hour, and there was a school bus on it. Oh, and Global Warming is the current fear d'jour. Watching programmes like Megastructures (various Discovery channels) only serves to underline the ineptitude of US construction teams. Us Brits aren't much better either... it seems the current World Champions at construction are the French (disgraceful...). Especially when it comes to bridges.... Anyway - returning to the point... It's specious to blame GW for the Minnesota bridge collapse. It had been on "it's gonna fall over" watch since 2000 or 2001 (I forget which), so the authorities KNEW it was in trouble. They just underestimated how much, is all. Global average temperatures have, it seems, reached (approximately) a haitus. Since the “record” 1998 temperatures have been proven to be in error, shifting the hottest year on record back to 1934, I can’t help but wonder if global warming (and, specifically, anthropogenic global warming) have been vastly overstated in order to allow Governments to apply more taxes. The reason for the lateness of the Bush administration to the GW Tax Party further, I shall leave to those more qualified than I to comment (i.e. Americans).

Nevertheless, the US seems to have bridge collapses – and some fairly spectacular ones at that – on a depressingly regular basis. I guess this one is big news because it’s a major bridge on a major interstate, it occurred during rush-hour, and there was a school bus on it. Oh, and Global Warming is the current fear d’jour.

Watching programmes like Megastructures (various Discovery channels) only serves to underline the ineptitude of US construction teams. Us Brits aren’t much better either… it seems the current World Champions at construction are the French (disgraceful…). Especially when it comes to bridges….

Anyway – returning to the point… It’s specious to blame GW for the Minnesota bridge collapse. It had been on “it’s gonna fall over” watch since 2000 or 2001 (I forget which), so the authorities KNEW it was in trouble. They just underestimated how much, is all.

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