September 20, 2007 - Excerpt of U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar speaking at Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works hearing regarding 35W bridge collapse.
September 20, 2007 - Excerpt of U.S. Senator Norm Coleman speaking at Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works hearing regarding 35W bridge collapse. Both of Minnesota's U.S. Senators took part in a hearing on Capitol Hill today to urge quick action on bridges in need of repair or replacement. Republican Norm Coleman and Democrat Amy Klobuchar testified before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. The oversight hearing was called in the wake of the collapse of the 35W bridge in Minneapolis. Coleman says he and Michigan Democrat Carl Levin, have asked the non-partisan Government Accountability Office to do a review of the national bridge program.
September 20, 2007 - Two of the bridge teams who had hoped to win the rights to build the I-35W bridge have filed a protest with the state of Minnesota. Maple Grove based C.S. McCrossan and a joint team including Ames Construction of Burnsville and Lunda Construction of Black River Falls say they were misdirected by Minnesota Department of Transportation officials when it came to the scoring of the proposals. A team led by Colorado based Flatiron Construction was awarded the bid yesterday pending a signed contract. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck has more.
September 20, 2007 - The Minnesota Department of Transportation has selected a joint team from Colorado and Seattle to rebuild the I-35 W bridge. Flatiron Constructors and Manson Construction company were awarded the bid over three other teams at a public ceremony yesterday . Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
September 21, 2007 - The Oromo an ethnic group from Ethiopia. Some 10,000 to 15,000 live in Minnesota, which is one of the largest populations in the country.
September 21, 2007 - Two of the bridge teams that lost their bids to rebuild the I-35W bridge have filed a protest with the state of Minnesota. C.S. McCrossan of Maple Grove and a joint team including Ames Construction of Burnsville and Lunda Construction Company of Black River Falls, Wisconsin, say they were misdirected by Minnesota Department of Transportation officials regarding the type of proposal the state wanted. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
September 21, 2007 - The selection of Flatiron Contruction to rebuild the I-35W bridge may seem like a surprise. The company has never built a bridge in Minnesota and its bid was more expensive and requires more time than competing bids. So, why Flatiron? Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck went looking for some answers. He found that Flatiron is one of the largest bridge builders in the country and is a company that also manages to fly under the radar.
September 21, 2007 - Another controversy has emerged in connection to the I-35W bridge reconstruction. State transportation officials are asking a special legislative panel for the authority to spend an additional $195 million. That's the amount of emergency money still due from the federal government to help pay for a new bridge. But a key DFL lawmaker accuses the Pawlenty administration of using a backdoor maneuver to avoid a broader debate of transportation funding. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.
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 26, 2007 - A commission, made up of Minnesota Legislative leaders, will meet to discuss whether MN-DOT can increase its spending authority by 195 million dollars. Congress has promised it will appropriate those funds to pay for a new 35W bridge. If the Legislative Advisory Committee does not grant the request, 200 other construction projects could be delayed while funds are diverted to the 35W project. Governor Pawlenty said there's no legal or logical reason for lawmakers to block the request. DFL Senate Transportation Committee Chair Steve Murphy is one of the eight members of the Legislative Advisory Committee and comments on the situation.