Hastings MN Bridge construction

[spdolphs]

For any of you locals that have to go through Hastings for any reason, it is a real mess. The first classic auto show of the summer is here this weekend, and it only makes things worse. One lane, taking turns across the busiest 2 lane bridge in Minnesota.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1UtGaP_8j0

Video of the line of traffic and my journey across today.

[Kansas Viking]

Waiting in traffic like that has got to be great on your gas mileage at $4 a gallon.

[John]

When they found the "61" bridge was bad months ago I just shuddered... there are not a lot of alternate routes.

I've gone through there twice since and it is a nightmare. I know every back road, but they don't always work and waiting on 61 is what we have to do.

Everyday with that... I'd be looking for medication, if that is legal.

John

[spdolphs]

It's just going to get worse now! It will be closed on Fathers Day weekend. You know, Dad's and their sons want to go fishing....major river....area lakes... I know, let's block easy access to everything that day!

[BGM]

Well, I have one up on you. They just had an emergency closure of the bride in here in Winona for a minimum of two weeks and probably more due to corroded gusset plates found during an inspection. There are over 3000 folks who use that bridge to get to work every day. The commute from Fountain City to Winona is six miles using the bridge. They have to reroute to either La Crosse or Wabasha and the trip will now be 70 miles. A good number of folks who live in Winona work in Arcadia, WI at Ashley Furniture or Gold'n Plump. They will have 50 more miles to drive to get to work, one way. With gas prices the way they are, this is bad news.

Of course, it's better than having the bridge collapse.

BGM

[Demi]

Of course, it's better than having the bridge collapse.

Which happened once in how many years? It seems in part because of the added weight of construction materials and construction crew (definitely didn't help)

The sky is falling!
The sky is falling!

Or in this case...the bridges. But then, this is where society has gone, complete overreaction to what most likely was a freak occurrence that couldn't have been prevented short of doing what no one would have considered necessary.

[John]

Well, I have one up on you. They just had an emergency closure of the bride in here in Winona for a minimum of two weeks and probably more due to corroded gusset plates found during an inspection.

This bridge is another built in the same design as I understand it. There must have been a move to "build 'em cheap" back in the '60s-early '70s, or, the engineers back then didn't do the math. We have bridges that are 100+ years old of other designs that are still holding up.

Your detour is a monster. I hope they can repair the Winona bridge rather than replace it as that may lessen the pain.

The Hwy. 61 bridge in Hastings might have to go, right? That is long term pain for the locals in the area.

John

[BGM]

Apparently, inspections never focused on the gusset plates but on the main support structures. Erosion of those plates can weaken the bridge and leave it susceptible to fatal failure, as was the case with the I-35 bridge.

And even if this is a case of Chicken Little, I would much rather they err on the side of caution at this point. I don't view an inconvenience like this too terrible considering the possible consequences.

BGM

[BGM]

Which happened once in how many years?

One too many times, IMO.

BGM

[John]

And even if this is a case of Chicken Little, I would much rather they err on the side of caution at this point. I don't view an inconvenience like this too terrible considering the possible consequences.

BGM

I agree. Want to borrow a boat for the summer.

I'm thinking that our state money would be better spent repairing or replacing (if needed) some of these bridges (Hastings, Winona, St. Cloud, etc.) than on a train that will run on a bus route between Mpls. and St. Paul. Huh?

John

[Demi]

I agree. Want to borrow a boat for the summer.

I'm thinking that our state money would be better spent repairing or replacing (if needed) some of these bridges (Hastings, Winona, St. Cloud, etc.) than on a train that will run on a bus route between Mpls. and St. Paul. Huh?

John

And I'd rather they act with a clear head, as opposed to panicking and shutting down bridges for virtually complete rebuilds, based on newly established minimums only created because of one freak accident. And spending billions unnecessarily. The money has to come from somewhere, or could have possibly be spent elsewhere, that most likely could have accomplished more.

You'll probably get your train either way.