Commentary; Posted: 8/8/07
Hard questions follow bridge collapse
The collapse of the Interstate 35W bridge over the Mississippi River is a reminder of what’s important in this life.
Motorists should not have to worry if bridges are safe. The state government is responsible for the transportation system and it needs to be held accountable.
The politics of funding transportation takes on a new level and poses the question if the Lt. Gov. Carol Molnau of Minnesota also should be the State Transportation Commissioner.
The I-35W bridge is the main artery that links the northern suburban communities with urban Minneapolis. Commuters depend on the safety of the bridge.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar said it best, “No bridge in America should be falling down.”
The blame game had begun, even as divers probed murky Mississippi River waters for bodies trapped in submerged automobiles.
It is obvious that the bridge was not structurally sound on Aug. 1, 2007. There are all kinds of theories, but the fact remains that Minnesota residents depend on state government to keep bridges from collapsing.
Gov. Tim Pawlenty would shut down a bridge if he were told it was in danger of collapsing.
No one believes that anyone in the Minnesota Department of Transportation would cover up a bad bridge rating for any purpose. One is left to believe that this was an accident that may or may not have been avoided.
Gov. Pawlenty acted decisively and quickly as soon as he realized that bridges in Minnesota may not be entirely safe.
Hiring an outside consultant to examine all the documents and actions taken on this case is a prudent move.
No doubt Mn/Dot will check its procedures and go over what happened, but the fact remains the bridge collapsed because a number of factors came together.
Only the most cynical would have us believe that not passing a gas tax and not having enough funds led to fewer or incomplete bridge inspections.
The hard questions, however, need to be asked and let the political pieces fall where they may. This happened on Gov. Pawlenty’s watch and he is responsible for finding the cause and taking necessary action.
The good news is that loss of life is not as great as expected in the early hours of the tragic event on Wednesday, Aug. 1, primarily due to the quick action of all agencies that proved there is a plan to respond to a disaster.
Meanwhile, the whole state needs to stop pointing fingers and mourn with the families whose members met their death on a bridge that should never have fallen. — Don Heinzman
Forest Lake Times
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