Jul 28, 2008 5:56 pm US/Central
Minn. Lawmakers Want To Step Up Bridge Inspections
ST. PAUL (AP) ―
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Senator Jim Carlson, a Democrat from Eagan, says incidents like concrete falling off an Interstate 35E overpass this weekend underlines the need for more safety measures. (File)
CBS
Minnesota lawmakers are proposing more frequent bridge inspections and higher salaries for top transportation engineers.
The proposals are part of a bridge safety package announced on Monday near the first anniversary of the Minneapolis collapse.
Senator Jim Carlson, a Democrat from Eagan, says incidents like concrete falling off an Interstate 35E overpass this weekend underlines the need for more safety measures. He says bridge inspections need more follow-up so problems are fixed and not just documented.
The proposal would require the transportation commissioner to set the frequency of such examinations in months. Right now, some bridges get inspected every year but that could mean more than 12 months between inspections.
The package would also lift a state salary cap for engineers.
Carlson and the other Democrats behind the proposal say their plan could save money by catching problems earlier. But they didn't provide financial details.
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The original I-35W bridge over the Mississippi River opened in November 1967 and was 1,907 feet in length. The replacement bridge opened in September 2008 and measures 1,216 feet in length.
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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