Reports: Design flaw caused Minneapolis, Minnesota bridge to collapse
{{date|August 9, 2007}}
[[Image:I-35W Bridge Collapse Webster Cars.JPG|right|240px|thumb|Cars are overturned in a jumble of concrete after the I-35W bridge collapsed. {{image credit|[http://www.tonywebster.com/i35w/ Tony Webster]}}]]
Investigators say that flaws in the design of the [[w:Interstate 35W (Minnesota)|Interstate 35W]] bridge in [[w:Minneapolis, Minnesota|Minneapolis, Minnesota]] may have caused it to collapse and that the design flaw is not "unique" to the Minneapolis bridge.

According to an ongoing investigation by the [[w:National Transportation Safety Board|National Transportation Safety Board]] (NTSB), the flaw was found in the [[w:Gusset|steel plates]] connected to [[w:girder|girders]], which are large support beams used in construction and connect the plates together. It is reported that extra stress from construction equipment might have caused the plates to separate, causing the bridge to collapse.

The flaw has not yet been confirmed to be the source of the disaster, and the NTSB says that the investigation could take several months to fully be completed.

At least six people were killed and at least eight are missing, whilst over 100 are injured after the bridge collapsed on August 1.

==Related news==
*{{wikinews|title=Death toll up to six in Minneapolis bridge collapse|date=August 4, 2007}}
*{{wikinews|title=Highway bridge in Minneapolis, Minnesota, collapses|date=August 2, 2007}}

==Sources==
*{{source|url=http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/08/09/steel_plates_may_be_design_flaw_in_minn_bridge_collapse/
|title=Steel plates may be design flaw in Minn. bridge collapse
|author=Monica Davey and Matthew L. Wald
|pub=The Boston Globe
|date=August 9, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2007/0808/us.html
|title=Possible design flaw in US bridge
|author=
|pub=rte.ie
|date=August 8, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.ntsb.gov/Pressrel/2007/080807.htm
|title=Update om NTSB investigation of collapse of I-35W bridge in Minneapolis
|author=National Transportation Safety Board 
|pub=NTSB
|date=August 8, 2007}}

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[[Category:Disasters and accidents]]
[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:Minnesota]]
[[Category:National Transportation Safety Board]]
[[Category:North America]]
[[Category:Transport]]
[[Category:Roads]]
[[Category:Missing persons]]

[[es:Reportes: Fallo de diseño causó el derrumbe del puente de Minnesota]]
[[pl:Wady projektowe przyczyniły się do zawalenia mostu w Minneapolis]]
Cars are overturned in a jumble of concrete after the I-35W bridge collapsed. 
Investigators say that flaws in the design of the Interstate 35W bridge in Minneapolis, Minnesota may have caused it to collapse and that the design flaw is not "unique" to the Minneapolis bridge.

According to an ongoing investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the flaw was found in the steel plates connected to girders, which are large support beams used in construction and connect the plates together. It is reported that extra stress from construction equipment might have caused the plates to separate, causing the bridge to collapse.

The flaw has not yet been confirmed to be the source of the disaster, and the NTSB says that the investigation could take several months to fully be completed.

At least six people were killed and at least eight are missing, whilst over 100 are injured after the bridge collapsed on August 1.

es:Reportes: Fallo de diseño causó el derrumbe del puente de Minnesota
Disasters and accidents United States Minnesota National Transportation Safety Board North America Transport Roads Missing persons