September 27, 2007 - MPR’s Tom Scheck reports on problems and criticisms with the Minnesota Department of Health, including efforts to conceal funding shortfalls, delay reports, and scrubbing web sites.
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 DFL heads of the state House and Senate join Midday to discuss the ongoing controversy over funding to rebuild the collapsed 35W bridge, as well as the state's transportation funding in general.
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 4, 2007 - An eight member panel is taking it's time in deciding whether to authorize state money to pay for a new I-35W bridge. The "Transportation Contingent Appropriations Group" is a group of senior lawmakers who have to decide whether the state should give $195 million to the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Without the money, MnDOT Commissioner Carol Molnau says her department will have to delay other transportation projects in order to pay for the replacement bridge. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck helps sort out the delay.
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.