On Aug. 1, 2007, the Interstate 35W bridge in Minneapolis collapsed into the Mississippi River during evening rush hour, killing 13 people and injuring more than 140.
An investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board later concluded a design flaw as the likely cause of the collapse. Investigators also cited additional weight from construction-related materials on the bridge when it collapsed as a contributing factor.
Minneapolis officials have dedicated a Remembrance Garden memorial honoring the 13 people who died and the injured.
August 14, 2007 - As the Minnesota Department of Transportation moves ahead with rebuilding the I-35W bridge, some are asking about making a place for a memorial at the site of the collapse. Midmorning discusses the challenge of creating a public memorial and commemorating victims meaningfully.
August 14, 2007 - With recovery efforts taking place at the site of the I-35W bridge collapse, Midday discusses ambiguous loss and how to be resilient in the face of trauma. Guest Pauline Boss, University of Minnesota professor emeritus of Family Social Science, discusses loss involving missing loved ones.
August 15, 2007 - Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak gives his pre-budget address to the City Council. He had planned to give it earlier, but the I-35W bridge collapse and its aftermath postponed it until now.
August 15, 2007 - State lawmakers will weigh in today on the proposed design for a new 35w bridge. That design, released yesterday, calls for ten lanes for traffic. That's one more in each direction but right now, it doesn't include room for a future light rail line. At today's hearing before a joint session of the House and Senate transportation committees, lawmakers will hear from leaders at MnDOT and the Metropolitan Council. But Republican state representative Mary Liz Holberg says she was hoping to also hear from Minneapolis city officials.
August 15, 2007 - Two high profile bridges span the St. Louis River and the Duluth harbor; connecting that city with Superior, Wisconsin. Each year one of those bridges gets a routine safety examination. But in the wake of the I-35 bridge collapse in Minneapolis two weeks ago, both get a look this summer. Minnesota Public Radio's Bob Kelleher joined a Wisconsin inspector on a nearby bridge in Superior to learn what the experts look for. Every bridge has a personality, and this one is pretty tame. It's an overpass bridge, built in 1962, to carry Highway 53 over a city street. It's called a deck girder bridge, considered a strong and reliable design, with redundant support if something should fail. Inspector Allan Bjorklund looked for problems during an unofficial inspection. He shows how a routine inspection works.
August 15, 2007 - When the I 35-W bridge in Minneapolis collapsed two weeks ago sales at some nearby businesses fell with it. Some firms near the bridge say they've lost patrons. Others say business has actually picked up.Minnesota Public Radio's Annie Baxter has this look at the patchwork of effects.
August 15, 2007 - MPR’s Brandt Williams reports on preview of the coming budget from Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak. The city of Minneapolis will put more money into maintenance and repair of bridges and roads in the coming year, according to Mayor R.T Rybak. Rybak was due to deliver his 2008 budget, but the collapse of the I-35W bridge delayed that plan. The bridge disaster also forced Rybak to shift budget priorities and to plan for more money in public works.
August 15, 2007 - A joint House-Senate committee has just completed a hearing this afternoon on the I-35W bridge design. State lawmakers pressed officials with the Minnesota Department of Transportation on what the design will look like, the quick timeline on getting the bridge rebuilt and whether MnDOT listen to the concerns of the public in the design. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck has more.
August 15, 2007 - State legislators will discuss the design for a new Interstate 35-W bridge during a House-Senate hearing this afternoon. Minneapolis officials are unhappy that the plans for the bridge don't include a light rail line. State transportation officials have said including LRT is too expensive and will cause too much delay in rebuilding the bridge. Minneapolis City Council member, Paul Ostrow, says legally the city has the right to not give its municipal consent if the new bridge design does not meet the city's standards.
August 15, 2007 - The long bridges between Duluth and Superior, Wisconsin are getting safety inspections. Minnesota Public Radio's Bob Kelleher reports.