About 3 hours ago, I received a news flash on my computer about a bridge over the Mississippi that had collapsed during rush hour, sending an estimated 50 cars into the water below. And such is the nature of life in this age of Muslim terrorism that my first thought was of an al Qaeda strike….
But before reading further details about the story, I recalled the sensational collapse of a huge chunk of Boston’s “Big Dig” tunnel last year, which killed one commuter. Then my thoughts moved immediately from terrorism to cynicism – as I lamented the crumbling state of America’s infrastructure.
And, sure enough, reports are that this “horrible disaster” was caused by the accidental rupture of a seemingly sturdy Minneapolis bridge (namely, Interstate 35W, which was built 64 feet above the river in 1967) – not unlike so many others that span rivers, lakes and highways all over the United States.
What is so troubling, however, is that, notwithstanding construction to resurface the snow-cracked pavement of the bridge, there were no apparent structural flaws that would explain why this mass of concrete just snapped like a twig.
But, just as the Big Dig prompted federal investigators to launch a nationwide search for other flawed tunnels, this collapse will no doubt launch a similar inspection of all freeway bridges to see if they too might collapse at any moment.
Interest for now, however, is entirely focused on the body count, heroic rescue efforts and miraculous stories of survival ….
We’re still trying to get a count on how many, but a lot of people went into the river. There are no indications of a nexus to terrorism at this time. [Russ Knocke, a spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security]
My thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the dead and wounded. And may God be with the rest of us who cross similar bridges every day….
* Published originally yesterday, Wednesday, at 10pm
bridge collapse Minneapolis
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