U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration

MEMORANDUM

PURPOSE

In light of the uncertainty surrounding the cause of the I-35 W Bridge collapse in Minneapolis, Minnesota, we strongly advise that all State Transportation Agencies and other bridge owners immediately re-inspect all steel deck truss bridges with fracture critical members. At a minimum, State Transportation Agencies and other bridge owners should review inspection reports, including those for routine, in-depth, fracture critical, and underwater, to determine whether more detailed inspections are warranted.

BACKROUND

At 6:05 P.M. EST on Wednesday, August 1, 2007, the bridge over the Mississippi River between University Avenue and Washington Avenue on highway I-35 W in Minneapolis, MN, collapsed. Numerous vehicles were on the bridge at the time.

To assist with this undertaking we are attaching the Structural Inventory and Assessment. We will provide State Transportation Agencies with additional information as it becomes available.

Please refer any question to Benjamin Tang at 202-366-4592 or benjamin.tang@dot.gov.

Attachment