We were warned

In July 2001, the Herald of Grand Forks, North Dakota, published an investigative story highlighting the increasing problems with aging bridge infrastructure in Minnesota.

The two-month examination, which relied heavily on computer databases from the U.S. Department of Transportation, found that 1 in 25 Minnesota bridges needed replacing (nationally, about 1 in every 9 bridges needs to be replaced).

For those looking for potential causes of the bridge collapse, the Herald lists the following as common contributors:

• The bridges inability to handle the flow of water in a storm or flow
• Soil erosion around the abutment of the bridge may cause the pilings to be exposed to the elements of nature
• Too heavy of load, speed, surface roughness, and truck suspension interact to amplify stress
• Corrosion from salt and water may cause severe decay of the deck
• Debris clogging a joint prevents movement to relieve stress
• The flow of water may scour away soil under the foundation