September 25, 2007 - Governor Tim Pawlenty says there's been a misunderstanding over the potential impact of the 35W bridge reconstruction on other projects. DFL lawmakers have been warning that other road and bridge work will likely be put on hold so the Minnesota Department of Transportation can pay for the new 35W bridge. The Republican governor says there will be no delays if a legislative panel simply approves MnDOT's request for increased spending authority. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.
September 28, 2007 - In response to the 35W bridge collapse in Minneapolis the state of Wisconsin will begin installing sensors that detect areas of strain on some 14 bridges in the state. The bridges are of similar design to one that collapsed in Minneapolis and many of the bridges that will be monitored are on the border areas of Minnesota and Wisconsin. Finn Hubbard is Wisconsin's chief bridge engineer. He says the sensors are being installed on an experimental basis to get an idea of the kinds of stress the Badger State's bridges are under.
October 1, 2007 - The state has picked a team to design and build the new Interstate 35W bridge, but the politicians are still wrangling over how it's going to be paid for. Meanwhile, some state legislators are calling for major changes at the state Department of Transportation. Midmorning looks at bridge progress.
October 1, 2007 - Minnesota transportation officials say the cost of the 35W bridge collapse and replacement will be 143 million dollars more than earlier projections. MnDoT officials now peg the total expense at $393 million. The news came as the Pawlenty Administration urged a panel of senior lawmakers to approve funds for the bridge replacement. But some lawmakers say they want the entire Legislature to decide the funding in a special session. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
October 3, 2007 - The legislature's top-ranking Democrat has joined the call for Lieutenant Governor Carol Molnau to resign her other job as state transportation commissioner. House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher of Minneapolis said today she's concerned about Molnau's ability to run the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Legislators also launched another investigation of the state agency in connection with the 35W bridge collapse. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.
October 8, 2007 - A new report on the economy of northeastern Minnesota calls into question the value of mining jobs. The region is poised to add more than a thousand high-paying jobs in several new mining projects. But the report's author says the region should think hard about whether those jobs will fulfill the promises their backers are making. Minnesota Public Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports.
October 8, 2007 - A special panel of state lawmakers will meet again this week to discuss whether they should authorize state money for the I-35W bridge. It will be the third meeting on the Pawlenty Administration's request for state money to pay for the bridge. The administration is asking for the money because not all of the promised federal funding has come through. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck guides us through the confusing funding process that is being used to get the bridge rebuilt.
October 8, 2007 - The Minnesota Department of Transportation has officially awarded a contract to the Flatiron-Manson company for designing and building a new 35W bridge. MnDOT officials released some design sketches of the bridge this afternoon and talked about why Flatiron beat out two other firms for the $234 million dollar bridge contract. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck has more.
October 8, 2007 - The state Department of Administration has recommended rejecting a protest filed by two losing bidders for theInterstate 35W bridge replacement. The companies had argued that the bidding process was flawed. The winning bid of nearly $234 million came from Flatiron Constructors and Manson Construction. It was the most expensive of the three bids and would take longest to complete. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck has more.
October 9, 2007 - The plans have been unveiled, the contract is signed, and in spite of legal threats from contractors who lost the bidding process, surveying begins Tuesday for the new 35W bridge. Where does funding stand for the bridge project and other transportation priorities in Minnesota? The designers of the 35W bridge presented two options for the concrete piers that support the structure. A discussion on Midday.