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It reminded me too much of the Loma Prieta Quake here. I was right near the epicenter when it happened, near the Boardwalk in Santa Cruz. The damage there as pretty extensive but it really didn't hit me until I saw the freeway collapse while driving around. That as well as the section of the Bay Bridge falling down. That really scared me because up until that time, all I saw was some structural damage on some houses, like chimney falling down (usually the only mason structure on homes around here).

My heart goes out to those who were there. It seems they got lucky and kept the deaths and injury to minimum.

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Seize the day and SING!!!

Thanks for the info Dennis!

that makes all kinds of sense, doesn't it?!


eben, not to dredge up bad memories, but did you ever see pics of the San Fransisco quake in '89?   a double decker bridge pancaked hundreds of cars as well as alot of other damage.  ther bridge is the vision that sticks in my mind, though.

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All work and no play make Homer something something

Yeah, Loma Preita quake is the 1989 quake, the same. I saw those damages in person. It was an incredible site. However, as I said, the death rate was very low, surprisingly. I would have thought thousands have died from all that damage but not even close. We were lucky and it looks like Minnesota got just as lucky.

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Seize the day and SING!!!

It could not have been much worse. Only 1 innocent person dying makes it as bad as it gets, more people dying just causes more heartache and sorrow, but doesn't make it worse.

An outrages statement! Tell that to the people who survived 911 and lost a loved on in this tragedy. One person dying makes it a tragedy. Just because it's not on a grand scale as 911 doesn't make it a walk in the park.

Hindsight is always 20/20. Nobody knew that the bridge would give way, and statements like what you just made sound cheap. Were you looking at the bridge everyday wondering if it was to fail? I don't think so.

What about the next disaster? Can anyone tell me what that will be?

Allstar,

Thanks for taking my statements totally out of context, so you could make me look like an idiot!

I love people who spend their time trying to figure out how to make others look bad.

Get a life.

Don't be such a baby, Dennis. Getting on your hind legs and being on immediate defense is not helping.
I was not trying to make you look like an idiot, was just stating some things that were overseen. And btw, I have a life, thank you. A great one; just because I can see in a broader spectrum doesn't make me wrong, does it? If only one person died tragically, would it not have been a tragedy in your opinion? The problem is, we read about innocent victims every day, and we don’t make anything of it. We are so used to people dying, that if it’s not “big”, we don’t see it. Why was Madeline McCain not mentioned? Doesn't she deserve to be found? You see, no matter how big or small, when innocent people become victims, it's a tragedy.

Honestly, I don’t want to get into a hassle with you. People who spend their time cutting and pasting pieces of others posts, and then making derogatory statements out of context aren’t worth the time or the energy. Your post added nothing constructive to the discussion…just your personal attacks, based on small snippets of what is being discussed. The fact that the destruction of 911 was significantly more in terms of damage than the bridge collapse seems to evade you. That comment had nothing to do with the number of people who perished. Read it again! Stop taking things out of context. Your comments suggest that I have no feelings for the people or the families of the people that died. Read my original post. I take offense to your saying that I don’t care about the loss. My close friend’s aunt and her child are under that rubble.

I heard on the news yesterday that rescue squads are having a tough time because of the water current, and they aren't able to use certain subs for the rescue effort.
How deep is the water under those particular bridges at that point ?  Was that portion of the mississippi formed as a partially man-made channel  ?

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

The currents in the area around the rubble are strong, due in part to the obstruction, and the fact that the St. Anthony Falls is just downstream from the bridge. This is also the site of the lock and dam.

 

They say it is about 8-9 feet deep. The part of the bridge that is in the water is being suspended by the steel super structure that is underneath it. That is also part of the problem in getting to what is under there. There is twisted steel and rebar and broken concrete with the river flowing through it.



I'm not sure, but I don't think this is a man made channel, although I'm sure it may have been altered some for the lock and dam at some point.

Here's an over head shot of the area.

The Metrodome is on the lower right. I-35 runs right through the middle and the bridge is to the left. St. Anthony Falls can be seen in the bottom middle. You can see the current running right towards the bridge.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ardenteye/502522201/

Wouldn't you think in 8-9 feet of water there'd be a land-anchored device with a powerful arm and cage basket they could  use to explore the general terrain ?

Is there too much rainful recently to dam the falls for a day ?

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

They have a bunch of equipment in there.

Actually, we are in the middle of a drought here. They dropped the water level using the dam as much as they could. It was still pretty dangerous. The Navy divers are making progress today.

Dennis,   what type rapids have they claimed that water as ?  I know there are areas such as niagra falls where some of the nastiest rapids exist in 50 feet of water traveling at very high speeds.  But have they stated what type rapids working in that water is comparable to ?

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

Its always sad when innocent people die due to neglegence. Unmaintained bridges etc, Its happened here in nyc too over the years.

Consider the following: The Varrazanno narrows bridge from brooklyn to staten island was sold to a foreign country (i believe australia?). The Garden state parkway in new jersey is for sale or might be already sold. As i saw in the news a few days ago the brooklyn bridge may also be for sale.

Maybe the Toyota people will keep us safe if they buy EH?

That's bizarre.  Why would the Met. Transit Authority wish to sell major suspension bridges to a foreign country ?  What's does that accomplish ?

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

This was sent to me today.  Probably some of the best pictures I have seen of the collapse, (If can phrase it that way.)  I especially found the picture of the firefighters grouped together looking on and then the picture of the three priest looking on as though both groups had the same thoughts.

http://drugoi.livejournal.com/2280005.html

Kelly

Thanks Kelly,   that gives a VERY close perspective of actual size, height, casualties etc.  Makes it A LOT more realistic for those of us that aren't close to that area,  makes it tougher to depersonalize the event.

Another important addition.  The people (that of course were on the deck were not 64 feet above the water level),  the clearance beneath the bridge is 64 feet,  the deck and cars would've collapsed 115 feet assuming the fell to water level.  The deck averaged 115 feet above the water level.  That's NOT a low overpass.

Bridge specs

The two main trusses, one on either side, ranged in depth from 60 feet (18.3 m) above their pier and concrete pylon supports, to 36 feet (11 m) at midspan on the central span and 30 feet (9.14 m) deep at the outer ends of the adjoining spans. At the top of the main trusses were the deck trusses, 12 feet (3.66 m) in depth and integral with the main trusses.[21] The transverse deck beams, part of the deck truss, rested on top of the main trusses. These deck beams supported longitudinal deck stringers 27 inches (.7 m) in depth, and reinforced-concrete pavement. [24][21] The deck was 113 ft 4 in (34.5 m) in breadth, and was split longitudinally and also had transverse expansion joints at the centers and ends of each of the three main spans.[21][25] The roadway deck was approximately 115 feet (35 m) above the water level.

Collapse caught by security camera
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:35wB ... llapse.gif

(appears water depth is about 15 feet)

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".