MnDOT barricades bridge over Mississippi River at Winona

**singersp** · 06-04-2008, 05:37 AM

I'm probably the only PP.Oer this affects, but just in case..........

[size=13pt]MnDOT barricades Hwy. 43 bridge over Mississippi River at Winona[/size]

By MARY LYNN SMITH and JIM FOTI
Star Tribune
startribune.com

Last update: June 3, 2008 - 11:14 PM

Minnesota transportation officials abruptly shut down yet another bridge over the Mississippi River Tuesday evening.

...commuters will face 70 to 105 miles of extra driving per day via other bridges south or north of Winona.

**shockzilla** · 06-04-2008, 06:10 AM

Steve, is that a major blockade for you?

**singersp** · 06-04-2008, 06:31 AM

"shockzilla" wrote:

Steve, is that a major blockade for you?

Yep!

My 20 minute ride to work one way will now take me closer to between an hour to an hour & a half. I'll time it today.

Instead of driving 8 miles to a bridge, I now have to drive 30.

Ironically, my place of work is about 3-4 miles away from me as the crow flies.

Right now they are talking it could take up to 6 weeks before it reopens.

**Zeus** · 06-04-2008, 07:29 AM

"singersp" wrote:

I'm probably the only PP.Oer this affects, but just in case..........

You're who I thought about when I read that in the paper this AM.

Hope it doesn't fuck things up too bad for you.

=Z=

**pack93z** · 06-04-2008, 08:26 AM

Here I thought it was to keep the puddle jumpers out of Wisconsin..
;D

I know that bridge well.. and yep it is a hike to the next nearest.. Singer have you considered a boat? Might make the travel a bit easier..
:P

**i_bleed_purple** · 06-04-2008, 08:31 AM

well that certainly sucks for commute.
In 30 miles I could drive from one end of my city to the other, but I would hate to have to do that twice each way going to and from work.
But i guess, as they say, better to be safe than sorry.

**BloodyHorns82** · 06-04-2008, 10:55 AM

"singersp" wrote:

"shockzilla" wrote:

Steve, is that a major blockade for you?

Yep!

My 20 minute ride to work one way will now take me closer to between an hour to an hour & a half. I'll time it today.

Instead of driving 8 miles to a bridge, I now have to drive 30.

Ironically, my place of work is about 3-4 miles away from me as the crow flies.

Right now they are talking it could take up to 6 weeks before it reopens.

Is there anyway you could just ride your bike to the river, then take a canoe or kayak across?
You could get a boat slip or something to store your boat at perhaps?
Pull it up and hide it in the weeds on the other side?
LOL...
there might be an option there for you though...
Hell, I would hate to drive 1 1/2 hours if my business was only 3 miles away.

**jmcdon00** · 06-04-2008, 11:08 AM

"i_bleed_purple" wrote:

well that certainly sucks for commute.
In 30 miles I could drive from one end of my city to the other, but I would hate to have to do that twice each way going to and from work.
But i guess, as they say, better to be safe than sorry.

I think it might be over kill. How often do bridges collapse? I realize that their was a big one here not to long ago but I still don't see bridge collapse as a major threat. Out of the billions of people who cross bridges every year how many fall in the water? Not too many. There was nothing major that happened to this bridge, last week it was running smoothly. I would think they could atleast keep part of the bridge open, maybe make it a one way bridge to reduce traffic, or have meters to make sure it is not over capacity but to just shut the whole thing down is excessive IMHO.

**Bkfldviking** · 06-04-2008, 11:13 AM

Singer, if you have any contact with the Governor he could call up the National Guard (if MN has a float bridge company) of he could contact ND who DOES have one (866 FB Co, Bismarck, ND)

http://www.globalsecurity.org/milita...nd/rb-pics.htm

We used to cross the Missouri for field exercises.
It's a little slower going, but beats the hell out of a 70 mile commute.

**BloodyHorns82** · 06-04-2008, 11:14 AM

"jmcdon00" wrote:

"i_bleed_purple" wrote:

well that certainly sucks for commute.
In 30 miles I could drive from one end of my city to the other, but I would hate to have to do that twice each way going to and from work.
But i guess, as they say, better to be safe than sorry.

I think it might be over kill. How often do bridges collapse? I realize that their was a big one here not to long ago but I still don't see bridge collapse as a major threat. Out of the billions of people who cross bridges every year how many fall in the water? Not too many. There was nothing major that happened to this bridge, last week it was running smoothly. I would think they could atleast keep part of the bridge open, maybe make it a one way bridge to reduce traffic, or have meters to make sure it is not over capacity but to just shut the whole thing down is excessive IMHO.

My guess is that if they are doing construction on the bridge, there isn't room for cars to travel and it's probably not safe.

There was nothing major that happened to this bridge, last week it was running smoothly.

The entire week before the 35W bridge collapse, things were running smoothly.

It was the gusset (sp?) plates that were ruled the cause of the 35W bridge collapse, and it is the gusset plates that are the point of concern for the Winona bridge as well.
Not sure if it is as severe though.

Another part of the reason is probably just liability...can you imagine the backlash if there was to be another distasterous problem with a bridge in MN less than 1 year after the 35W collapse?

I think your right though in that this is a bit of overkill, but hey, it's government so what else would you expect other than heartache, confusion, and distrust?