Bridges

Sept. 4, 2007, LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas Fatigue and Fracture Research Group was extending the lives of steel bridges long before the shocking Aug. 1 collapse of the Minneapolis I-35W Mississippi Bridge.

But in the wake of that deadly disaster, KU’s four-decades-long mission to make bridges safer has added urgency.    » read more »

Minnesota Twins donate to I-35W Bridge, SE Minnesota Flood and Northwood, ND Tornado Relief Funds

Report shows no immediate safety concerns; Governor commits to continued and new investments in transportation statewide

August 30, 2007 -- Salem – Oregon Governor Kulongoski today received the final report from the Oregon Department of Transportation on the condition of steel-truss bridges in Oregon similar in construction to the bridge that collapsed in Minnesota. The Governor called for inspections of all 46 steel deck truss bridges in Oregon after the collapse earlier this month. The report shows that there are no immediate safety issues.    » read more »

August 23, 2007 -- JEFFERSON CITY – Missouri Governor Matt Blunt today issued the following statement on the Missouri House of Representatives action to approve economic development legislation designed to help create Missouri jobs and a bill to finalize the plan to repair or replace 800 Missouri bridges:    » read more »

JACKSON, Ky. – (Aug. 22, 2007) – The awarding of a $1.3 million bridge replacement contract in Powell County is yet another example of the commitment of Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to provide a safe and reliable transportation system in the Bluegrass State.

“Keeping our state’s bridges safe is a top priority,” Governor Fletcher said. “Our administration has made a significant effort to replace substandard bridges in an effort to keep Kentucky’s transportation infrastructure functional and in good repair.”    » read more »

August 21, 2007 -- [WASHINGTON, DC] – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has awarded a $150,000 grant to Will County for the High Road Bridge over Long Run Creek in Lockport Township, Illinois. The bridge is a single-span concrete structure that is 52 feet in length, carries two 11 foot lanes of traffic with an out-to-out deck width of 26 feet. The innovative project will use precast reinforced concrete abutments and precast, prestressed concrete slab units.    » read more »

August 17, 2007 -- Michigan State Transportation Director Kirk T. Steudle today announced that the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) has posted information about the safety of 4,402 state highway bridges to the MDOT Web site at www.michigan.gov/highwaybridgereport. Steudle said the information was being made available to emphasize the safety of travel on state highway bridges and to assure the public that MDOT is actively inspecting and maintaining bridges in Michigan.    » read more »

August 15, 2007 -- MINNEAPOLIS -- Seabees from Underwater Construction Team 1 (UCT-1) are assisting Divers from Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 2 (MDSU-2) in the continuing search and recovery efforts at the site of the Interstate 35W bridge collapse in Minneapolis.

Lt. Li Ping Sung, the executive officer of UCT-1, has been working with MDSU-2 divers in Minneapolis since Aug. 6, at the request of the Department of Transportation and in support of the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office.    » read more »

8/13/2007 -- MINNEAPOLIS (NNS) -- As crews move forward in recovery efforts of the I-35 bridge collapse, multiple agencies are working together to make the job move smoothly.

“The overall coordination and support we’ve received from local, state and federal authorities have been absolutely tremendous,” Hennepin County Sheriff, Richard W. Stanek said. “The efforts that folks have been putting forth have been non-stop.”    » read more »

Collapse of Minnesota Bridge Highlights Need for Independent Review of Nation's Aging Transportation System

August 13, 2007 -- Washington, DC – In the wake of the tragic bridge collapse in Minnesota, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton today called for the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission to redouble their efforts in compiling a comprehensive analysis of our nation’s transportation infrastructure.    » read more »

August 10, 2007 -- MINNEAPOLIS -- Navy divers from Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 2 from Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Va., bring unique expeditionary diving and salvage capabilities to the search and recovery efforts at the site of the Interstate 35W bridge collapse.    » read more »

August 10, 2007 -- JEFFERSON CITY - Missouri Governor Matt Blunt, Senate President Pro Tem Michael R. Gibbons and House Speaker Rod Jetton today announced a special session of the Missouri General Assembly to begin August 20th to fast track the Safe and Sound Bridge Improvement Program to repair or replace more than 800 Missouri bridges and enact an economic development package which includes an expansion of the governor’s successful Quality Jobs Act.    » read more »

August 10, 2007 -- AUGUSTA – Maine Governor John E. Baldacci inspected the Augusta Memorial Bridge today with engineers from the Maine Department of Transportation.

The Augusta Memorial Bridge is one of six “deck truss” bridges in Maine, which are of the same structural type as the bridge that collapsed in Minneapolis last week. One of these six bridges runs between Maine and New Hampshire, carrying the Route 1 Bypass.

All six bridges have now been re-inspected.    » read more »

August 9, 2007 -- Navy divers continued efforts yesterday in support of search and recovery efforts at the site of the Interstate 35W bridge collapse in Minneapolis, Minn.

The divers of Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 2 from Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Va., reentered the waters of the Mississippi River before 7 a.m. to continue a meticulous, hand-over-hand search of the area.

The divers finished searching an area of more than 25,000 square feet, effectively completing 90 percent of the area they have been assigned to search. Divers also recovered four vehicles from the site.    » read more »

August 9, 2007 -- During an Aug. 8 survey of the site of the Interstate 35W bridge collapse in Minneapolis, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty expressed his gratitude to the Navy for its support of search and recovery efforts.

Pawlenty visited the site with Secretary of the Navy, the Honorable Donald C. Winter, and thanked Winter for the assistance the Navy is providing in support of state, federal and local agencies involved in the effort.    » read more »