New I-35W Bridge Opens in Minneapolis

**gopherpuckfan** · 09-18-08, 09:44 AM

13 1/2 months after the 35W bridge collapsed into the Mississippi River, the replacement bridge opened this morning at 0500 hours. A procession of cars was led across the bridge by MN State Patrol, Minneapolis PD, Minneapolis Fire, and Hennepin County Medical Center ambulances. There's a video link in the story that shows the opening.

http://kstp.com/article/stories/S584366.shtml?cat=1

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - The new Interstate 35W bridge is open in Minneapolis, a little more than a year after the last one collapsed into the Mississippi River.

A procession of vehicles led by state troopers, emergency vehicles and state highway trucks led motorists across the bridge in both directions shortly after 5 a.m. Thursday.

Traffic was heavy as a mix of cars, motorcycles, trucks and buses started streaming across the bridge. Vehicles moved slowly at first, but then picked up speed.

Many vehicles honked their horns as they drove across and a few motorists waved American flags.

The old bridge collapsed on August 1, 2007, killing 13 people and injuring 145.

The new bridge has 323 sensors that will generate an extensive record of how it handles the stresses and strains of traffic and Minnesota's harsh climate.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)