Chronology - After August 2007

 

September 2007 and beyond…

 

7 September 2007

• The Army Corps of Engineers reopens Lower St. Anthony Falls lock to limited commercial barge traffic.

 

19 September 2007

• Mn/DOT selects Flatiron Constructors, Inc./Manson Construction as the bid winner to design and build 35W replacement bridge using a “best value” selection process.

 

20 September 2007

• Two of the bidding companies, C.S. McCrossan and the joint team of Ames Construction and Lunda Construction Co. file a protest with the state of Minnesota. The companies claim they were “misdirected" by Mn/DOT officials regarding the type of proposal the state wanted.

 

30 September 2007

Debris removal efforts.   Photo by Enrico Fuente

• Bolander and Sons, along with 20 subcontractors, continue to remove debris. The last piece of steel is removed from the river.

 

8 October 2007

• Contracts Manager Betsy Hayes and Chief Procurement Officer Kent Allin of the state agency that oversees contracts reject the protest filed by McCrossan and Ames/Lunda. They claim “nothing in the bidding process was ‘arbitrary or capricious.’"  
• A contract is awarded to the Flatiron Constructors, Inc./Manson Construction and FIGG Bridge Engineers, Inc. (Flatiron-Manson and FIGG) team for the design and construction of the 35W Bridge replacement project.
• The new bridge design is unveiled.  

 

9 October 2007

• The Flatiron/Manson construction team begins surveying bridge site.

 

29 October 2007

• Major construction begins on new bridge with concrete demolition on south side of river and drilling of a test shaft on the north side of river.

 

5 November 2007

• “H” beam pile driving begins. Because of the noise this activity makes, it will only happen during daytime hours.

 

9 November 2007

• Sonia Morphew Pitt is fired for serious misconduct. She had been Mn/DOT's director of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

 

29 November 2007

• Governor Pawlenty and Minnesota state legislators announce the "I-35W Emergency Hardship Relief Fund," which will reimburse injured survivors and family members of those killed in the 1 August collapse with up to $10,000 for lost wages.

 

10 December 2007

• Three Mn/DOT directors are disciplined for lax oversight of Sonia Morphew Pitt. Engineering Services Division Director Rick Arnebeck is suspended for three days; Maintenance and Security Director Steve Lund receives a written reprimand; and Division Director of Operations Bob Winter, Lund’s supervisor, receives a verbal reprimand. 

 

15 January 2008

• The NTSB Interim Report on the 35W Bridge collapse released. Findings indicate “undersized gusset plates were found at eight of the 112 nodes (joints) on the main trusses of the bridge. These 16 gusset plates (two at each node) were roughly half the thickness required and too thin to provide the margin of safety expected in a properly designed bridge.”

 

15 January 2008

15 January 2008 - the 100th day of construction on the new 35W Bridge.   Photo by Collin Anderson

• 100^th day of construction.

 

22 January 2008

• The victims’ families file preliminary paperwork to sue the state of Minnesota.

 

7 February 2008

• The I-35W Emergency Hardship Relief Fund reimbursement increases from $10,000 to $20,000.

 

8 February 2008

• Drilling is completed on the final shafts for the main bridge foundations.

 

19 February 2008

• State Legislative Auditor James Nobles releases the revised state highways and bridges evaluation report.

 

28 February 2008

• The Minnesota House passes a $40M bill to compensate victims of the Interstate 35W Bridge collapse. The House version of the bill does not cap individual awards.
• A vote of 44-22 by the Minnesota State Senate removes Lt. Governor Carol Molnau from her job as Mn/DOT’s Transportation Commissioner.

• Governor Pawlenty announces appointment of Bob McFarlin as interim commissioner.

 

10 March 2008

• The Minnesota Senate Finance Committee approves a $25M bill to compensate victims of the 35W Bridge collapse. The Senate bill limits settlements to $400,000 per victim.

 

13 March 2008

• The Minnesota Senate unanimously approved a $25M compensation fund that caps individual settlements at $400,000, includes $750,000 for administrative costs, and $680,000 for the children on a field trip from Waite House, whose school bus could be seen on many of the bridge collapse photos.

 

14 March 2008

• Approximately half of all the concrete required for the new bridge has been poured—25,000 cubic yards of the 48,700 cubic yards needed.

 

17 March 2008

• Original due date for the initial findings of the investigative report instigated by state legislators. The due date has been moved to 1 May 2008. The state Senate and House contracted with Gray Plant Mooty, a Minneapolis law firm. The report’s cost, $500,000, is being paid for out of their respective budgets.
• The NTSB posts many of their bridge collapse reports and supporting material online at http://www.ntsb.gov/dockets/.
• Governor Pawlenty states he supports extra compensation funds for individuals whose needs would not be met under the $400,000 cap in the Senate bill.

 

18 March 2008

• The NTSB announced it will not hold public hearings on the 35W Bridge collapse. The NTSB was split in its vote 3-2.

 

20 March 2008

The DeSoto Bridge (also known as the 3rd St. Bridge) in St. Cloud, Minnesota. Photo by jimfrazier

• Mn/DOT officials closed the Hwy 23 bridge over the Mississippi River in St. Cloud, MN. This bridge, also known as the DeSoto Bridge, was designed by Sverdrup & Parcel and was almost identical to the I-35W Bridge in appearance and construction. No deficiencies were found in the DeSoto Bridge when it was inspected on 3 August 2008. Inspectors found slight bowing in the gusset plates that help support the bridge.

 

24 March 2008

• Attorneys for the some of the victims question Mn/DOT on its knowledge of 35W Bridge structural issues based on photographs that were taken during an inspection in 2003.

 

25 March 2008

• Matthew Miller is awarded the Above & Beyond Citizen Honors by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society for his actions after the 35W Bridge collapse. He is “credited with running to the bottom of the Mississippi River embankment and carrying many injured motorists out from under the collapsed span to safety.”
• Senator Amy Klobuchar urges the NTSB to hold public hearings on the 35W Bridge collapse.

 

 26 March 2008

• Representatives from the state House and Senate begin discussions to resolve differences in their victim compensation funds. Major issues include the total dollar amount in the fund and whether or not to cap the amount of compensation.  

 

27 March 2008

• Representative Jim Oberstar, Chairman of the House Transportation Committee, announces the House Transportation Committee will hold public hearings on the 35W Bridge collapse, including how the NTSB has been handling the investigation. Oberstar has been critical of the NTSB’s decision to not hold public hearings.

   

21 April 2008

• Governor Pawlenty names Tom Sorel as Mn/DOT's new Transportation Commissioner. Sorel, a civil engineer, has been the division administrator in Minnesota for the Federal Highway Administration (FHA) for the past three years.

   

22 April 2008

• The U.S. Fire Administration, a branch of FEMA, releases a federal report that praises Minneapolis for its response to the 35W Bridge collapse. It also cites areas that needed improvement.

 

2 May 2008

• The Minnesota Legislature comes to an agreement on how to disperse funds in the 35W Bridge Victim Compensation Fund. Two funds will be set up. One will pay victims for uncompensated damages and is capped at $400,000 per individual. The second fund will pay damages beyond $400,000 to those who were "extraordinarily impacted."

 

24 December 2008 (estimated)

• The St. Anthony Falls (I-35W) Bridge will be open for traffic.

 

 

Go back to the August 2007 chronology.

Start chronology over.

 

 

 

Chronology Source Material:

 

American Society of Civil Engineers, Minnesota Department of Transportation, http://content.asce.org/I35WcollapseMinnesotaDeptofTransportation.html. Retrieved 7 March 2008.

American Society of Civil Engineers, Response to 35-W bridge collapse, http://www.asce.org/response.html. Retrieved 7 March 2008.

City of Minneapolis, Traffic alerts. Retrieved 10 March 2008.

CNN.com, Police ID 8 still missing after Minnesota bridge collapse. Retrieved 7 March 2008.

CNN.com, States warned to inspect bridges. Retrieved 7 March 2008.

Minnesota Department of Transportation, Interstate 35W Bridge: Original Plans & Details. Retrieved 7 March 2008.

Finance and Commerce, Horror of 35W collapse hard to imagine. Retrieved 10 March 2008.

The Library of Congress, Bill search, http://thomas.loc.gov/home/c110query.html. Retrieved 7 March 2008.

Minnesota Department of Transportation, Interstate 35W Bridge Facts - Background on the I-35W Bridge. Retrieved 7 March 2008.

Minnesota Department of Transportation Interstate 35W Mississippi River Bridge, Minneapolis Fact Sheet - Oct. 16, 2007. Retrieved 10 March 2008.

Minnesota Department of Transportation, I-35W St. Anthony Falls Bridge. Retrieved 7 March 2008.

Minnesota Department of Transportation, Interstate 35W Bridge: Original Plans & Details for Bridge 9340. Retrieved 7 March 2008.

Minnesota Department of Transportation, I-35W St. Anthony Falls Bridge –Visualization. Retrieved 9 March 2008.

Minnesota Department of Transportation, News Release - Mn/DOT announces apparent bid winner for I-35W Bridge project. Retrieved 7 March 2008.

Minnesota Department of Transportation, I-35W St. Anthony Falls Bridge – January 11, 2008. Retrieved 7 March 2008. 

Minnesota Local Road and Research Board, Fatigue Evaluation of the Deck Truss of Bridge 9340. Retrieved 10 March 2008.

Minnesota Public Radio, Two losing contractors file protest over 35W bidding process. Retrieved 9 March 2008.

Minnesota Public Radio, Letter of protest by losing contractors. Retrieved 9 March 2008.

Minnesota Public Radio, Rich contract awarded for I-35W bridge replacement. Retrieved 7 March 2008.

Minnesota Public Radio, Three MnDOT managers disciplined over Pitt case.Retrieved 7 March 2008.

Minnesota Public Radio, State agency recommends against protest by losing bridge bidders. Retrieved 9 March 2008.

Minnesota Public Radio, Governor and legislators announce I-35W victims relief fund. Retrieved 9 March 2008.

Minnesota Public Radio, House passes bill to compensate bridge survivors. Retrieved 10 March 2008.

Minnesota Public Radio, Two losing contractors file protest over 35W bidding process. Retrieved 10 March 2008.

Minnesota Public Radio, Senate passes bridge victims compensation fund. Retrieved 21 March 2008.

Minnesota Public Radio, Lawmakers to get first look at their own 35W bridge probe. Retrieved 21 March 2008.

Minnesota Public Radio, Pawlenty: 'Extraordinary cases' among 35W victims could get extra. Retrieved 21 March 2008.

Minnesota Public Radio, NTSB divided over public hearing on I-35W bridge collapse. Retrieved 24 March 2008.

Minnesota Public Radio, Attorneys question MnDOT over warped gusset plates. Retrieved 25 March 2008.

Minnesota Public Radio, Officials weigh next steps for the DeSoto Bridge. Retrieved 29 March 2008.

Minnesota Public Radio, Minnesota man honored for bridge rescue efforts. Retrieved 29 March 2008.

Minnesota Public Radio, Talks begin over compensation for Minn. bridge collapse victims. Retrieved 29 March 2008.

Minnesota Public Radio, Oberstar to hold hearings into NTSB investigation. Retrieved 29 March 2008.Minnesota Public Radio, Remembering the Dead. Retrieved 12 April 2008.

Minnesota Public Radio, NTSB head clarifies stance against bridge collapse hearing. Retrieved 12 April 2008.

Minnesota Public Radio, Special session likely for dual disasters. Retrieved 13 April 2008.

Minnesota Public Radio, Report gives Minneapolis high marks on bridge collapse. Retrieved 24 April 2008.

National Transportation and Safety Board, NTSB urges bridge owners to perform load capacity calculations before modifications; I-35W investigation continues. Retrieved 7 March 2008.

National Transportation and Safety Board, Safety Recommendation. Retrieved 11 March 2008.

New York Times, At Bridge Site, Search of River Moves Slowly. Retrieved 7 March 2008.     

New York Times, Divers Find More Remains in Wreckage of Bridge. Retrieved 7 March 2008.

Office of the Governor, Tim Pawlenty, Governor Pawlenty Announces Bridge Collapse Relief Fund Limits Will Double. Retrieved 9 March 2008.

Office of the Legislative Auditor, Evaluation Report – State Highways and Bridges. Retrieved 13 April 2008. 

StarTribune.com, Divers return, find remains of 9th victim. Retrieved 7 March 2008.

StarTribune.com, State's tab for steps at 35W bridge site: $1,311 per tread. Retrieved 7 March 2008.

StarTribune.com, Five teams OK'd to submit bridge bids. Retrieved 7 March 2008.

StarTribune.com, MnDOT official fired over improper trips. Retrieved 7 March 2008.

StarTribune.com, For I-35W bridge, a vision of safe and simple. Retrieved 9 March 2008.

StarTribune.com, Phone call put brakes on bridge repair. Retrieved 10 March 2008.

StarTribune.com, I-35W bridge victims may now get $20,000 in relief, Retrieved 10 March 2008.

StarTribune.com, Bridge's de-icing system coming under scrutiny. Retrieved 11 March 2008.

StarTribune.com, Bridge hero to get national award. Retrieved 5 April 2008.

StarTribune.com, Klobuchar requests hearing on 35W bridge. Retrieved 5 April 2008.

StarTribune.com, Federal highway official is named state's transportation chief. Retrieved 22 April 2008.

StarTribune.com, After a long wait, state has relief for 35W victims. Retrieved 3 May 2008.

Twincities.com (St. Paul Pioneer Press), House OKs bridge victims' funds - $40 million would be divided among survivors, families. Retrieved 7 March 2008.

Twincities.com (St. Paul Pioneer Press), DFL-led Senate ousts Molnau as roads chief. Retrieved 10 March 2008.

U.S. Department of Transportation, Press Release. Retrieved 7 March 2008.

WCCO.com, House, Senate Differ On 35W Victim Compensation. Retrieved 10 March 2008.

WCCO.com, Peters: $50M In Emergency Aid, $5M For Transit. Retrieved 11 March 2008.

WCCO.com, AP: Dozens Of 35W Bridge Victims Prepare To Sue. Retrieved 7 March 2008.

Wikipedia.com, Leif J. Sverdrup. Retrieved 11 March 2008.

WISN.com (Milwaukee, WI), Timeline of bridge collapse. Retrieved 7 March 2008.