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.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation is expected to finish inspecting all the state's bridges by next week. To date, the inspections have found that 15 state and local bridges with problems severe enough that they needed to be closed, immediately repaired or closed to some traffic.
(12/13/2007)
State officials have disciplined three Transportation Department managers for lax oversight of an emergency manager who stayed out of state after the Interstate 35W bridge collapse.
(12/10/2007)
Sonia Morphew Pitt, the emergency manager fired
by the Minnesota Department of Transportation, is appealing her termination and seeking reinstatement, according to her attorney.
(12/05/2007)
In his ruling, the judge said that federal regulations covering National Transportation
Safety Board investigations trump state laws dealing with access to government records.
(11/29/2007)
An investigation by Minnesota Legislative Auditor finds that the fired emergency manager for the Minnesota Department of Transportation cost the state at least $26,000 in unauthorized charges and pay.
(11/28/2007)
A Hennepin County judge promised Thursday to
rule by early December on how much data gathered after the Interstate 35 bridge collapse the state must make public and how quickly.
(11/15/2007)
By a 270-147 vote, the U.S. House passed a bill that provides $195 million to replace the collapsed Interstate
35W span in Minneapolis and an additional $1 billion above President Bush's
request to help states fix deteriorating bridges. He is threatening a veto.
(11/14/2007)
It is estimated that some 180 people were on the 35W bridge when it collapsed. Thirteen of them were killed in the disaster and many were injured. What should the state do to compensate them and their families?
(Midday, 11/14/2007)
Sonia Morphew Pitt has been on administrative leave and under
investigation over travel expenses, including an out-of-state trip
she declined to cut short in the days following the Aug. 1 bridge collapse.
(11/09/2007)
Despite testimony from senior staff about the
Minnesota Department of Transportation's improving finances,
Commissioner Carol Molnau warned Thursday about possible delays in
road projects planned for next year because of limits on agency
spending.
(11/08/2007)
Two construction executives filed paperwork Wednesday asking the high court to overturn
a Ramsey County judge's decision allowing the project to move forward last week.
(11/08/2007)
Investigators have a "working theory" that
a poorly designed gusset plate and excessive weight on the
Interstate 35W bridge led to the bridge's fatal collapse on Aug. 1,
U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters says.
(11/02/2007)