Cast Study 2: Crumbling Infrastructure

An In Depth Look at the 35W Bridge Collapse and the Responsible Actors

Introduction

The following case study examines the collapse of the 35W bridge. It centers around attempts to identify the varying actors potential roles based on their contributions to the series of possible failures that lead to the collapse. It is in no way a direct approach from one perspective, but rather a compilation of policy, engineering and bureaucratic mindsets. The bridge collapse ear-marked a turning point in public interest and the effects thereof will be seen in US politics and accompanying policy-making processes. The changes to come will be a direct result of the bridge collapse, and it is important to understand the factors involved both in the reasoning for the collapse and the prevention of future disasters.

Required Readings:

Crumbling Infrastructure: Case Study Report
This is our Case Study Report on the responsible actors surrounding the 35W bridge collapse. The report takes a detailed look at the history of USDOT and the 35W bridge and then investigates the involved parties to help determine who is responsible for the collapse. This paper encourages a methodical process towards discovering what went wrong and why, further pressing on into the policy that is likely to come about in the wake of August 01 2007.

People Who Drive on Glass Bridges...
A clairvoyant article from the National Science Foundation on the current glass-like nature of bridges and the bridge building materials of the future. This article seeks to show the limitations of current materials being used to build infrastructure and the possiblilities for the future.

Refractions: Engineering and History
This short essay exemplifies a trend in history for repeating mistakes over and over and further presses the need for us to learn from our past mistakes by looking back on history and using it to prevent making mistakes in the future (What does this say about policy?)

Congress Eyes fix for crumbling infrastructure

This extremely ironic article appeared on ABCNEWS.go.com on August 01 2007, based on the content it appears they had no idea that the 35W bridge would collapse, meanwhile this article talks of congress's plan to finance infrastructure fixes upwards of $75 Million a porject and the article ends with a quote that you don't want to miss.

America Needs Some Political Backbone

(Page two of this article has six related links that are worth reading - strongly recommended)

These articles are from an engieering perspective. They are a compiliation of statemens about the bridge collapse and our infrastructure situation. They tackle issues like where our infrastructure falls short to what issues lie ahead. While the titles may seem redundant to news print from the last month, they in fact carry some great new perspectives and information that most mainstream articles left out; including a look at who is to blame based on what may have caused the collapse and the inevitable impacts that go with it.

Group Members

Jory Schwach, Mari Hunter and Jacob Christianson

Reaction Questions

Who is ultimately to blame?

Private companies?
Inspectors?
Local/State Government?

Federal Government?
Legislators?
Policy-makers?
Others?

Discussion Questions to Consider

What Major policies will change because of the disaster?

What Minor policies with come about in the wake of the disaster?

Is it realistic to update all infrastructure?

Is it fair to look at people as numbers?

Is 4 Million a person a realistic amount for the worth of a life?

Should the fiscal worth of life be a factor in guiding policy?

Fact Sheet History of 35W Bridge

Type of Bridge: Three span continuous deck truss

Started Construction: 1964

Design and build:

Designer: Sverdrup & Parcel

Builder: Hurcon Inc. &

Industrial Construction Company (trusses and deck)

Original cost: $440,740 - piers

$4,828,262 - bridge

Opened for use: 1967

Size dimensions:

1,907 feet long with eight lanes of traffic.

108 feet wide from curb to curb (113 feet 4 inches total).

Bottom of the bridge: 64 feet above the average river height.

Roadway about 110 feet above the water (in contractor drawings).

Lifespan: 40 years

Expected Years For Rebuild: 2020 - 2025

Daily Occupancy: 140,000 vehicles daily (includes 5,700 commercial)