Wedding weekend begins with family photos with the soon-to-be-in-laws in an hour or so - ironically just a mile upstream from the bridge. I'll try to stick around as long as I can to answer any questions you have.
I've been trying to keep you - and my constituents first and foremost - current with the most up-to-date information I have.
My first diary is available here: 35W Bridge Update (#1).
My second diary is available here: 35W Bridge Update #2.
I've been getting a few inquiries about the timing of a special session. It looks like the Governor will call one for just after Labor Day. I agree with his suggestion that we look for a long-term solution to our transportation funding crisis, but that we keep focused on MnDOT reforms and public safety needs.
A few people have asked for more details about our transportation funding structure in Minnesota. For instance, did you know that the gas tax is dedicated by the state Constitution to only road and bridge projects? I'm preparing a separate email that I'll distribute in the next couple of weeks covering federal, state and local funding issues.
BRIDGE FUNDING NEEDS
The Transportation Committee continues to work to understand the resources needed immediately to inspect every bridge on the state's "structurally deficient and functionally obsolete" list - and to take every remedial action to shore up any endangered bridge. It looks like the minimum figure is an additional $1.7 Billion a year to meet all of our urgent Transportation safety and functional needs.
The "Structurally Deficient and Functionally Obsolete" list, as of Aug 6 this year, is available on this page of collated information from MnDOT (look on left hand column, near the bottom, under "Inventory Reports"). You can see that the North Branch 95 / I-35 and the Stacy county 19 / I-35 bridges are on the list. A special session must not just help rebuild the 35W bridge, it must include enough long-term funding and structural reforms to address critical needs all over the state.
OSCEOLA BRIDGE
The Osceola MN Hwy 243 bridge over the St Croix River was reinspected this week. You may recall it is one of 4 other bridges around the state of the Warren Arch Deck Truss design.
The engineers found no critical additional findings, and rated the superstructure as in "Good Condition." You can download the report yourself (a 4.8 MB .pdf file) by visiting the same MnDOT page, and on the bottom right of the page, click on "Highway 243 over the Saint Croix River."
DETAILS ON THE BRIDGE SITE
Rather than getting our news from word-of-mouth and the print and broadcast media, the Governor's office is now collating a daily news update to legislators. I've pasted today's email from the Governor's spokesman below this update. I will ask my Legislative Assistant to help me keep an eye out for any information relevant to Chisago County commuters or to our bridges, and to pass that information along to you when we get it.
A PERSONAL NOTE
I've been pulling double duty this week, with the bridge crisis and preparing, with my fiancee, Hope, for our wedding this Sunday. We'll be taking a short honeymoon, and I've promised to let my staff do their good work so Hope and I can truly enjoy being newlyweds. I'll be available if needed for the most urgent business, and I look forward to returning refreshed and ready to dive in to the task at hand at the State Capitol.
Thanks to everyone who's passed along their good wishes. Hope has the patience of a saint, given the unexpected stresses of the bridge tragedy.
My best to you and your family, and continued prayers for the families of the victims - especially those just now seeing their lost loved ones.
Jeremy
Dear Members of the Minnesota Senate and House:
On behalf of Governor Pawlenty and our office, thank you for your assistance and leadership on behalf of our state’s citizens in the days after last Wednesday’s tragic Interstate 35W bridge collapse.
Our office will work with state agencies and other partners to compile this information on a timely basis and send it to you regularly. Usually we’ll be sending out this update email around the end of the work day.
One key message to communicate to constituents and others is that we ask them to consider the wishes of the families of the victims first and foremost. There are a number of victims who have not yet been recovered from the bridge collapse site and the process of debris removal is focused on treating those victims and their families with the dignity and respect they deserve. Recovery and reconstruction work will proceed as appropriate, but patience is requested during this time.
Overview:
· Initial Damage Assessment meeting with City of Minneapolis, FEMA, Hennepin County, Park Board and HSEM occurred on August 6, 2007.
· The Mobile Incident Command Post has moved to 13th Ave and River Road. Standing briefings will take place daily at 0700, 1200 and 1500.
· FBI and Department of Defense (DoD) Navy diving and salvage teams have been brought in under the direction of the Hennepin County Sheriff, to assist with finding the optimum points of entry into the debris. The divers, who are salvage experts, have been assisting local divers since 0200 this morning and brought in underwater saws and torches.
· The family assistance center will have these hours starting Thursday, August 9:
2-9 p.m. staffed
3-7 p.m. (end time flexible) for families
· Rep. James L. Oberstar (Minn.) Wednesday proposed a program to repair the nation’s structurally deficient bridges. Oberstar, who chairs the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, announced the plan in Minneapolis after visiting the site of the bridge tragedy.
· City of Minneapolis Police provided information on how individuals can retrieve their vehicles and personal belongings from the bridge area. They also provided an update on perimeter security. Minnesota State Patrol provided an update on traffic flow.
Injuries/Deaths:
· Medical examiner reports 5 fatalities/79 injured (as of Thurs a.m.).
· No additional remains had been discovered by the end of the day Wednesday. Teams have continued to search down river as well.
MnDOT – 2pm daily briefing, Wednesday, August 8
· The project to remove the debris from the collapsed bridge is still developing. Mn/DOT is working with the National Transportation Safety Board in its investigation and Hennepin County in recovery operations.
· Companies interested in contracting to build the new bridge were required to submit their qualifications by 6 a.m. Aug. 8. The 35W project team is analyzing the data received from the various companies and is also preparing a request for proposals that will be published in the near future. The intent is to have a company on contract in September to construct the new bridge.
· Mn/DOT detailed the upcoming inspection process for all of the deficient bridges around the state at a news conference today. All fracture critical bridges will be inspected this year in priority order, and all of the structurally deficient bridges will be inspected in an expeditious manner. Parsons Brinkerhoff has been contracted to assist with the inspections as well as to independently review Mn/DOT’s bridge inspection processes.
· Mn/DOT announced several new safety and traffic projects along I-94 and Hwy 280 that will begin in the coming days and weeks. There will be 15 to 20 smaller projects that improve the roadways that are the primary detour routes for I-35W:
Along Hwy 280
Highway 280 has been converted to a freeway and is a part of the primary I-35W detour. Access points were closed to increase traffic flow last week and increase safety. In addition, concrete median barrier has been installed from Larpenteur to Como. In the coming weeks additional improvements are going to be implemented to further improve traffic flow and safety.
· It is likely that, this weekend a second lane will be added to the northbound Hwy 280 to I-35W/Hwy 36 ramp, eliminating a bottleneck.
· In the next few weeks, continuous lighting will be added to Hwy 280 increasing the night time safety.
· The connection to I-94 is being reviewed for possible enhancements in safety and capacity.
Along I-94
A fourth lane will be added in each direction to I-94 between I-35W and Hwy 280 to improve traffic flow on I-94 and Hwy 280 by;
· Resurfacing I-94, utilizing shoulder areas, and re-marking the traffic lanes so that four lanes are provided,
· Having the southbound Hwy 280 to westbound 94 ramp start a new lane instead of merging with I-94 and reopening westbound I-94 to three lanes,
· Converting the eastbound I-94 exit to northbound Hwy 280 to a two lane exit.
This project is currently being designed but it is likely that it will be constructed in the next few weeks.
Traffic Management
Traffic management systems (TMS) additions are being added at several locations to better monitor and manage the changing traffic patterns. Cameras and vehicle detection systems are being added to;
· Highway 280 from I-35W/36 to I-94
· Highways 65 and 47 near I-694
· I-94 in the Hwy 55/77 area
The above projects are currently being designed and are likely to be constructed in the next few weeks.
Transit
Mn/DOT is working in close cooperation with the transit providers to enhance transit service wherever feasible.
· In the past week a bus shoulder on I-694 from I-35W to I-94 has already opened
· Mn/DOT is monitoring the progression of buses and working creatively with several agencies to improve transit mobility
· Mn/DOT is working with Metro Transit to open new park and rides or increase the capacity of existing ones.
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
· Working with EPA to develop sampling plan for air quality in the neighborhoods surrounding the collapse site, during the deconstruction/demolition of the collapsed structure.
EPA
· Received sampling results for asbestos, silicates and VOCs. There is no evidence of a hazardous materials release at this time. The State of Minnesota requested U.S. EPA for assistance with perimeter air monitoring during debris removal activities. In the process of preparing a sampling plan for neighborhood air during the deconstruction/demolition of the bridge. EPA’s profile url for this site is located at: http://epaosc.org/...
Military Affairs
· Secretary of the Navy Charles Winter and Governor Pawlenty toured the site and were briefed by Navy divers and others Thursday afternoon.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
· Corps’ water regulators are working to keep the pool elevation in the Lower St. Anthony Falls area at elevation 723.1. The river is flowing at 1,200 cubic feet per second (CFS), at that location.
Brian McClung
Director of Communications and Citizen Outreach
Office of Governor Tim Pawlenty
130 State Capitol
Saint Paul, MN 55155
Phone: (651) 296-0001
www.governor.state.mn.us