Jul 26, 2008 11:06 pm US/Central
Falling Concrete Closes 35E At Maryland Bridge
ST. PAUL (WCCO) ―
Drivers heading north on Interstate 35E got a bit of a scare Saturday afternoon. A chunk of concrete fell off the Maryland Avenue Bridge in St. Paul and struck two cars. One car had damage to its hood, the other to its windshield.
That part of I-35E was shut down in both directions at 5 p.m. while the bridge was inspected. Inspectors said the piece of concrete that fell was a 4-foot by 4-foot piece of concrete that was 3 inches thick.
"Prior to 35W you think, 'a piece of concrete fell off.' Then when 35W happened, now we get these calls and (you think) 'how bad is it?'" said Lieutenant Rochelle Schrofer of the Minnesota State Patrol.
In this case, no one was hurt and MnDOT officials said the bridge's structure is safe. After a brief closure, the Maryland Avenue Bridge that runs over I-35E reopened around 6 p.m. MnDOT officials said it is not uncommon for pieces of concrete to break loose from structures.
"It's basically the same type of situation as like when your sidewalk starts breaking apart due to weather and the salt and just the elements," said MNDOT spokesman Kent Barnard.
Last August, Maryland Avenue bridge was inspected and received a sufficiency rating of 77. If a bridge receives a sufficiency rating less than 80, it is eligible for federal rehabilitation funding. MnDOT said that doesn't mean the bridge isn't safe.
"Sometimes it could be that the roadway leading up to a bridge, geometrics or the radiuses or the angles coming up to the bridge aren't real good; they should be more straight-on. There's a number of factors that go into the whole rating system," said Barnard.
Some drivers have their doubts. Gustavo Barreda used to drive under the bridge but said he will take a different route to work on Monday.
"It is very scary because I go through there every day. Going to work and coming from work. Sometimes with the whole family," said Barreda.
MnDOT workers are knocking off other loose pieces of concrete before reopening the freeway. Barnard said I-35E is expected to reopen before midnight Saturday evening.
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