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Minneapolis Bridge Collapse
The I-35W bridge over the Mississippi in Minneapolis collapsed during rush hour on August 1, 2007, plunging dozens of cars and their occupants into the river. The calamity disrupted transportation, aimed a spotlight on public infrastructure, and evoked an outpouring of public response.
 

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Some DFL lawmakers are calling on Lt. Gov. Carol Molnau to leave her other job as state transportation commissioner. (09/26/2007)
Gov. Pawlenty says the dustup over transportation funding in the wake of the 35W bridge collapse is nothing more than a misunderstanding. (09/25/2007)
The Wakota Bridge over the Mississippi River betwen South St. Paul and Newport could be delayed again as MnDOT looks for money to rebuild the I-35W bridge in Minneapolis. (09/25/2007)
State transportation officials are asking a special legislative panel for the authority to spend an additional $195 million. But a key DFL lawmaker accuses the Pawlenty administration of using a backdoor maneuver to avoid a broader debate of transportation funding. (09/21/2007)
The selection of Flatiron Construction 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? (09/21/2007)
The Minnesota Department of Transportation has announced who will be rebuilding the 35W bridge. But that doesn't mean the public is done offering opinions on the structure. (09/21/2007)
CS McCrossan Construction, Inc. and Ames/Lunda filed a letter of protest with MnDOT Thursday, saying they were "misdirected" by MnDOT regarding the type of proposal desired by the state. (09/20/2007)
Flatiron/Manson won despite submitting the high bid - $233.7 million - and proposing the longest timetable for the work, 437 days. (09/19/2007)
The official is on leave while the transportation agency reviews her work schedule and travel. She was attending a Harvard University training for emergency managers when the bridge failed on Aug. 1, and didn't return to Minnesota until Aug. 11. (09/19/2007)
The Minnesota Department of Transportation hired but decided not to use a consultant to help it look for flaws in the Interstate 35W bridge just three months before the span collapsed. (09/19/2007)
The span, connecting North and Northeast Minneapolis, will be closed during the day, most of this week while officials inspect it. (09/18/2007)
We get some ideas for funding transportation infrastructure from Robert Poole, engineer and founder of the Reason Foundation. He spoke recently in the Twin Cities, at the Center of the American Experiment. (Midday, 09/17/2007)
The Minnesota Department of Transportation will open bids next week for the I-35W bridge reconstruction. MnDOT is ready to pay $500,000 to each of the unsuccessful bidders, which a spokesman said is the largest stipend the agency has ever offered. (09/14/2007)
Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak challenged the nation to "have the guts to do what we need to" to pay for bridge and infrastructure repairs. He spoke Friday at a meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. (09/14/2007)
The I-35W bridge project is not funded in the package. One option under consideration by Minnesota lawmakers is to try to add funds to replace the Minneapolis bridge to an upcoming measure to further fund the war in Iraq. (09/10/2007)

I-35W bridge reopening

  • Read stories and see graphics, photos and video on the I-35W bridge reopening.

Multimedia

  • Audio, photos and video of press conferences, first-person accounts, and radio programs about the event.
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