
CHICAGO — A 51-year-old steel truss bridge over the Mississippi River in St. Cloud, Minn., was abruptly shut down on Thursday after inspectors found that its gusset places were bending — a problem similar to the one believed to have critically weakened the Interstate 35W bridge that collapsed in Minneapolis in August.
Transportation officials said that closing the bridge, which is similar in design to the collapsed bridge, was a conservative measure necessary until the structure can be repaired or replaced. The bridge carries State Highway 23, one of St. Cloud's biggest arteries, over the river.
A good move.
Well, glad to see they are being proactive -- this time. Guess they cannot risk another PR disaster nor a batch of lawsuits...
I think the engineers learned something they didn't know or maybe the bridge builders forgot.
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