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 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 19, 2007 - State officials have named a joint team from Colorado and Seattle as the winning bidder to rebuild the collapsed 35W bridge. The Minnesota Department of Transportation picked Flatiron Constructors and Manson Construction Company today from four bids. Flatiron/Manson won despite submitting the high bid, at nearly 234 million dollars. The team also had the longest timetable for the work, 437 days. MnDOT project manager Jon Chiglo says he's pleased with the choice.
September 19, 2007 - Minnesota Department of Transportation officials picked a joint team from Colorado and Seattle today to build a replacement for the collapsed Interstate 35W bridge. Flatiron Constructors and Manson Construction won the project despite submitting the high bid of $233.7 million. MnDOT will award stipends of $500,000 to each of the three losing bidders to cover the costs or preparing proposals. The original plan called for $300,000 stipends. DFL Representative Jeremy Kalin of Lindstrom says there's been no public accounting of the reason for paying more to the losing bidders.
September 3, 2007 - As Governor Pawlenty and legislative leaders still disagree on an agenda for a potential special session, some analysts say the prolonged partisan wrangling could have a political price. The Republican governor wants assurances that DFL lawmakers will keep the focus on emergency needs related to floods and the 35W bridge collapse. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.
August 24, 2007 - 9-1-1 calls made within moments of the collapse of the I-35W bridge are providing some insight into what callers witnessed the night of August first. The bridge disaster killed 13 people and injured about 100. The Minneapolis Emergency Communications Center released tapes and transcripts of some 40 calls this afternoon in response to media organization requests. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck and Tim Pugmire listened to the recordings and produced this montage of the calls.
August 23, 2007 - Some DFL lawmakers are concerned that reconstruction of the 35W bridge will delay other transportation projects throughout the state. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.
August 22, 2007 - State and federal officials say the recovery of the 13th and last known victim of the 35W bridge collapse means cleanup of the site can now proceed at a faster pace. Investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board will oversee the debris removal as they continue to look for the cause of the collapse. At a news conference Tuesday, NTSB Chairman Mark Rosenker said contractors can haul away the southern end of the bridge and the entire concrete deck.
August 22, 2007 - Some DFL lawmakers are concerned that reconstruction of the 35W bridge will delay other transportation projects throughout the state. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.
August 22, 2007 - State lawmakers are asking the Office of the Legislative Auditor to review highway and bridge spending issues in the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Three weeks after the 35W bridge collapse, a legislative panel meets with the auditor to request an update of a 1997 report. That report highlighted a growing number of structurally deficient bridges and a lack of preventative maintenance. It also warned of steel fatigue in some bridges. Legislative Auditor Jim Nobles says the 10-year-old report clearly showed the potential for a bridge collapse.