The collapse of 
a bridge on a well used section of 35W, spanning the Mississippi River on August 1, was frightening, extremely sad, and nothing short of a wakeup call for all of America.
While our government is busy spending billions of our tax dollars overseas to fight unethical wars and rebuild countries such as Iraq, our own infrastructure back home is an
tiquated and quickly becoming dangerous.
Here in Minnesota, we are exposed to a severe climate that swings from cold, ice and snow, to temperatures nearing 100 degrees Fahrenheit, like we’ve had frequently this summer. This, combined with salt and other chemicals used to combat the ice in winter, causes corrosion that tends to crumble concrete and steel over time.
In Minneapolis, there are plans to replace a sports arena (Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome) that was built in 1982, but the bridge that toppled Wednesday evening during rush-hour traffic, was built in 1967. Cl
early, our priorities are in question or there is a general sense of complacency about our failing infrastructure.
Anyone who has lived in the Twin Cities for any length of time has crossed that bridge at some point. There are other bridges that are considered to be in worse condition throughout the whole country. I am saddened by the loss suffered by the deaths of fellow citizens of this state. I am also outraged by the fact that our hard-earned tax money is being spent overseas in ways that I cannot condone, while our local infrastructure continues to degrade.
Kevin J. Curtis
a bridge on a well used section of 35W, spanning the Mississippi River on August 1, was frightening, extremely sad, and nothing short of a wakeup call for all of America.While our government is busy spending billions of our tax dollars overseas to fight unethical wars and rebuild countries such as Iraq, our own infrastructure back home is an
tiquated and quickly becoming dangerous.Here in Minnesota, we are exposed to a severe climate that swings from cold, ice and snow, to temperatures nearing 100 degrees Fahrenheit, like we’ve had frequently this summer. This, combined with salt and other chemicals used to combat the ice in winter, causes corrosion that tends to crumble concrete and steel over time.
In Minneapolis, there are plans to replace a sports arena (Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome) that was built in 1982, but the bridge that toppled Wednesday evening during rush-hour traffic, was built in 1967. Cl
early, our priorities are in question or there is a general sense of complacency about our failing infrastructure.Anyone who has lived in the Twin Cities for any length of time has crossed that bridge at some point. There are other bridges that are considered to be in worse condition throughout the whole country. I am saddened by the loss suffered by the deaths of fellow citizens of this state. I am also outraged by the fact that our hard-earned tax money is being spent overseas in ways that I cannot condone, while our local infrastructure continues to degrade.
Kevin J. Curtis
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