Deck Girder
There are some tragic news stories that reflect the climate and nature-related disasters, such as death and destruction due to droughts, floods, hurricanes, earthquakes or tornadoes. There are sad, tragic stories as accidental drowning, car accidents, and heart attacks.
Then there is the story of the collapse of the I-35W Mississippi River bridge in Minnesota on August 1, 2005 at 605pm. (CDT). There were thirteen deaths from the bridge collapse and the victims, eight men and five women, aged 22 months to 60 years, who were all from Minnesota residents.
Probably go home after a day's work and were caught in rush hour traffic jam, moving slowly across the bridge in a limited number of tracks when the central section of the bridge suddenly gave way, followed by the adjacent sections. The structure of the bridge deck collapsed into the river and along the river below. Approximately 100 vehicles were involved, sending their occupants and several construction workers up to 115 feet into the river and its banks. Northern sections fell into a rail yard, landing goods in three unemployed and stationary train cars.
Why is this so different tragic history of floods, hurricanes, droughts, accidents, and earthquakes? Because this story never should have happened and thirteen people lost their lives returning from work that August afternoon should not have died. The bridge collapsed and killed thirteen people, because this was a bridge too far from the supervision of a competent and fiscally responsible state and federal government. Lets examine the minutes of the I-35W Bridge:
In 1990, the Federal Highway Administration gave the I-35W bridge a rating of "structurally deficient", citing significant corrosion in its bearings.
Since 1993, the bridge was inspected annually by the Minnesota Department of Transportation. In the years before the fall, many different reports cited problems with the structure of bridgeÂ, yet Minnesota relied on patchwork repairs and strengthening inspections.
According to a 2001 study by the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Minnesota, repression was discovered in the rafters Cross at the end of the approach spans. The main trusses connected to the beams of the cross and the resistance to movement in the bearings of connection point is being unexpected out of plane distortion of the beams of the Cross and subsequent stress cracking. The situation was addressed by the drilling of the cracks to prevent and adding supports further spread of the beam cross braces to prevent further distortion. The report also noted a concern about the lack redundancy in the main system, which means the bridge was a greater risk of collapse in the event of any single structural failure.
In 2005, again bridge was rated as "structurally deficient" and the possible need of replacement, according to the U.S. Department database of National Transportation Bridge inventory. The federal National Bridge Inventory database of inspection records show that the I-35W bridge stood near the bottom of the ratings national federal inspection. The I-35W bridge was given a score of 50 in 2005. Out of 104,348 heavily used bridge structures (those with more than 10,000 vehicles traveling on them per day), only 4227, or 4%, scored below 50.
Problems were observed in two subsequent inspection reports in 2006. The survey conducted June 15, 2006 found fatigue cracks and problems.
So what was the reaction by Minnesota officials, when the I-35W bridge collapsed? "We had done everything we could," state bridge engineer Dan Dorgan told reporters not far from the mutilated remains of the bridge. "Obviously something went terribly wrong."
Minnesota Gov. Pawlenty should have been just as surprised as he said in August 2006 that its interpretation of the bridge inspection reports indicated that the bridge will last until 2020 or beyond. "Unfortunately, his prediction was disproved for thirteen years and thirteen premature deaths.
Repair bridges, it is politically attractive as other community projects State politicians seeking election. In fact, up to twenty percent of state transportation spending goes to the most visible community projects such as museums and bike paths. Minnesota has used transport spending in ninety miles of bike lanes and dedicated commuter routes out of the street.
Major expenditure setting and construction of infrastructure such as bridges often can be burdensome for state and local governments. This is where the federal transportation law takes effect. However, this bill has been a big part of the waste from the federal government for years. This is the bill that was a sponsor of the TO infamous "bridge to NowhereÂ" in Alaska. In fact, the Federal Transportation Bill has been an important part of the two hundred fifty-two billion dollars of federal spending per barrel of pork (Citizens Against Government Waste) since 1991 that our federal political career have feasted to help ensure his reelection. (See the pork barrel dollars Waste tax expenditure in the National Journal on this site).
So what had made the federal government to help Minnesota with the I-35W bridge repair, since the 1990 Federal Highway Administration considers the report of a bridge "structurally deficient"? What the federal government do to help Minnesota with the continued recognition of the structural problems with the bridge by the U.S. Department of Transportation? The answer is that the I-35W bridge for sixteen years was not a infrastructure project financed with federal funds despite several federal reports indicate serious structural problems, leading to the tragedy of August 1, 2007.
State and Federal Government officials need to finance infrastructure projects in the priorities and needs and not political expediency of the upcoming elections. Government should address issues of highway bridges and dams and long before structural collapse.
The I-35W bridge collapse August 1 2007, was the result of incompetence State and federal government oversight. The bridge collapsed because it was crucial to any election politician need congressional or interest group A special agenda. The I-35W Bridge did not receive adequate structural repair, because it was a bridge too far from the way the political process in this country, now works.
James William Smith has worked in Senior management positions for some of the largest Financial Services firms in the United States for the last twenty five years. He has also provided business consulting support for insurance organizations and start up businesses. He has always been interested in writing and listening to different viewpoints on interesting topics.
Visit his website at http://www.eworldvu.com
Shear Test
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MICRO ENGINERING 153 N SCALE 40 DECK GIRDER BRIDGE US $15.00
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C KATO 20 464 N GAUGE DECK PLATE GIRDER BRIDGE 124mm US $9.00
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MICRO ENGINERING 152 N SCALE 80 DECK GIRDER BRIDGE US $15.00
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KATO N Unitrack Deck Plate Girder Bridge Red 20460 US $9.95
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Kato USA Inc N 124mm 4 7 8 Deck Plate Girder Bridge Black US $10.80
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Kato USA Inc N 124mm 4 7 8 Deck Plate Girder Bridge Gray US $10.80
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BRASS 39ft DECK GIRDER BRIDGE w WALKWAYS UNPAINTED NEW US $139.95
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Kato USA Inc N 124mm 4 7 8 Deck Plate Girder Bridge Green US $10.80
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46 Inch Deck Girder Bridge Garden Metal Models US $210.00
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2 Two Atlas 2547 Deck Bridges N Bridge Trestle Girder N Scale US $9.99
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Atlas O LLC O Deck Girder Bridge US $125.80
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KATO N DECK GIRDER BRIDGE Black 124mm 20464 US $9.99
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Micro Engr 75505 Deck Girder Bridge w Open Deck Ki US $16.50
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124mm 4 7 8 Deck Girder Bridge S124T Kato 20 462 US $9.80
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124mm 4 7 8 Deck Girder Bridge S124T Kato 20 460 US $9.80
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Micron Art Z Scale Deck Box Girder Bridge Kit 1085 US $42.00
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Micro Engineering N 75153 40 Ballasted Deck Girder Br US $8.99
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ExactRail 72 Deck Plate Girder Bridge Early Version CSX EE 9914 1 US $40.00
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OPEN TYPE 11 3 4 inch long DECK STYLE PLATE GIRDER BRIDGE Kit HO Scale US $17.95
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Atlas 2547 Deck Girder Bridge N Scale MIB US $7.00
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Walthers 3147 Trestle w Deck Girder Bridge HO MIB US $27.98
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BRASS PBA 80 FOOT DECK GIRDER BRIDGE 1 TRACK F P NEW US $174.95
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MAINLINE BRIDGES G SCALE TRAIN DECK GIRDER BRIDGE 48 US $165.00
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HO Scale 85ft BALLASTED DECK GIRDER BRIDGE Kit US $19.94
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