A day after the tragic collapse of the 35W bridge in Minneapolis, theories
of exactly what caused it began pouring out of the Twin Cities area.
Perhaps the most disturbing piece of news surfacing is the fact that
Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) officials knew there was
serious corrosion on bearings and steel but still deemed the bridge fit to
hold traffic. Experts say that corrosion could have restricted the structure
from moving freely as it was designed to do. Officials also knew of decay
and fatigue cracking in the deck truss and other places.
