I heard about this yesterday in the paper. and the news showed it collapsing.

Does anyone know what happened? My prayers are with the families.

From what I have heard the initial reports (and a bridge report from a couple years ago) rated the structure at a 50/100, putting it in the constant monitoring status. The only semi-believable theory I've heard was that a resonant frequency from the construction and traffic coupled together to break weak spots in the bridge's joints and take it down.

Wow. I hadn't heard much about this till today. I'll be praying for the people still trapped there & for their families.

If the Tacoma Narrows Bridge has always served as an example to advocate for proper construction of bridges, this is likely going to serve as an example to advocate proper maintenance.

well, they were doing maintenance on the bridge when it collapsed. I myself work in minneapolis, and if my mom hadn't forgotten to pick up something for me, i would have been driving over the bridge about the same time as it fell.

i am so creeped out about driving over bridges now.. not like phobic or anything, but more like "creeped out"

[QUOTE=RyandermanIf the Tacoma Narrows Bridge has always served as an example to advocate for proper construction of bridges, this is likely going to serve as an example to advocate proper maintenance.[/QUOTE]

This is even worse than the Tacoma Narrows Bridge.

Because there were cars on it when it collapsed. Cars with people in them.

I think it's just ridiculous that a bridge determined OVER A YEAR AGO to be not particularly safe was still being used and had not been repaired yet. My thoughts are with the families who have been separated, whether permanently or temporarily, because of the bridge collapse, as well as all of the victims.

Well... I read in the paper that they had closed some lanes due to construction. Could have been a lot worse, if that was the case. At least it wasn't packed.

[quote=Kerensky287]This is even worse than the Tacoma Narrows Bridge.

Because there were cars on it when it collapsed. Cars with people in them.

I think it's just ridiculous that a bridge determined OVER A YEAR AGO to be not particularly safe was still being used and had not been repaired yet. My thoughts are with the families who have been separated, whether permanently or temporarily, because of the bridge collapse, as well as all of the victims.
QUOTE]
I agree, this is a tragedy, whereas the Tacoma Narrows Bridge collapse was just really expensive. But the comparisons are valid, and I'm sure are already being brought up.

Today's paper said that 13 bridges in NJ are rated as "deficient", two of which I drive over daily. But, it went on to say that nearly 20% of all bridges nationwide are deficient, but not to the extent of immediate action. I wouldn't worry, especially since the entire country is treating this as a wake up call.

I'm just glad all of my friends I know over there and people from NPF are safe. But how in the world had none of you heard about this until today? It's been on every news station constantly and on the front page of every paper.

Rock, meet Bob.
Bob, meet Rock.
No, I don't know why people keep living under Rock, but whatever. :D
I did manage to find this out while playing FFXI, and also from my family.

Anywho, my thoughts do go out to any and all affected by this.
Is it just me, or is everything that seems to go bad in the US a "wake-up-call"? :gonk:

Yeah, seems to work out that way. xD I'm considering it a wake-up call for the same reason 9/11 was a wake-up call. It showed us our weakness in an area of our infrastructure and could have been much much worse. I mean, a schoolbus landed on all four tires just inches from the edge of a dropoff, the Twins game for that day was postponed so not as much traffic was going over it as could've been, and traffic was moving slowly so people weren't driving 60mph to their deaths.