February 29, 2008 -
October 25, 2007 - MN Dot has announced some of the design details for the new 35W bridge. A wide-ranging group of residents, community leaders and elected officials voted on things like color, lighting and shape. MPR's Jess Mador has more.
October 25, 2007 - Some of the design elements for the new 35W bridge have been finalized. About 80 residents, community leaders and government officials took part in a Minnesota Department of Transportation workshop that culminated in a vote yesterday. The group voted on various aspects of the design including pier shape, lighting and color. The winning color for the new bridge is white. The group also voted on open bridge railings to allow for a view of the Mississippi River. Jon Chiglo is MnDOT's project manager for the 35W bridge reconstruction. He says the workshop was intended to gather community input on the new bridge's design.
October 22, 2007 - With the political campaign season under way, our television screens could soon be filled with attack ads. Last week's feud between Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann and local television stations over an ad criticizing one of her votes raises the question: can voters believe what they see? MPRs Jess Mador (MAYdoor) has more.
October 15, 2007 - Vernon Bellecourt, a longtime leader of the American Indian Movement, died Saturday at the age of 75 from complications of pneumonia. Minnesota Public Radio's Jess Mador has this remembrance.
September 6, 2007 - The National Transportation Safety Board's investigation into the cause of the 35W bridge collapse has revealed damage in part of the bridge structure that the agency says warrants further inspection. Investigators say they have "observed damage in some gusset plates," the metal plates that held the bridge's steel beams together. A week after the bridge collapsed, the NTSB said the agency had identified what it called a design issue with gusset plates at certain locations on the bridge. Officials say they have not yet recovered all of the gusset plates from the Mississippi, so it is still impossible to say whether the gusset plates played a significant role in the collapse. But NTSB spokesman Terry Williams says the agency is not ruling anything out.
September 5, 2007 - The National Transportation Safety Board's investigation into the cause of the 35W bridge collapse has revealed damage in part of the bridge structure that the agency says warrants further inspection. Investigators say they have "observed damage in some gusset plates," the metal plates that held the bridge's steel beams together. A week after the bridge collapsed, the NTSB said the agency had identified what it called a design issue with gusset plates at certain locations on the bridge. Officials say they have not yet recovered all of the gusset plates from the Mississippi, so it is still impossible to say whether the gusset plates played a significant role in the collapse. But NTSB spokesman Terry Williams says the agency is not ruling anything out.
August 17, 2007 - Minnesota transportation officials have lots of public input to consider as they continue planning a new 35W bridge in Minneapolis. Hundreds of Twin Cities residents took advantage of their first chance to sound off about the replacement bridge at an open house in Roseville last night. Minnesota Public Radio's Jess Mador was there and has this report.
August 11, 2007 - Minnesota transportation officials say they hope to award the construction contract for the new 35W bridge as early as next month. Department of Transportation spokesman Bob Mcfarlin says the state is pushing so fast because the collapsed bridge is such a crucial traffic corridor.
August 10, 2007 - Minnesota transportation officials say they hope to award the construction contract for the new 35W bridge as early as next month. Department of Transportation spokesman Bob Mcfarlin says the state is pushing so fast because the collapsed bridge is such a crucial traffic corridor.