Bridge Community Offers Assistance for I-35W Collapse Investigation

American Institute of Steel Construction
Source: PressReleasePoint.com
2 August 2007

On behalf of all its members and staff, the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) and the National Steel Bridge Alliance (NSBA) offer its sympathy to all of the victims of yesterday’s tragic collapse of the I-35W bridge over the Mississippi River in Minneapolis.

“We pray for the speedy recovery of the survivors and applaud the excellent rescue and recovery efforts,” stated Conn Abnee, NSBA executive director. “While it would be premature and inappropriate to speculate at this time on the cause of the collapse, our members will be offering to help in any way possible. The National Transportation Safety Board, along with other federal and state offices, is currently beginning an investigation and we stand ready to assist them as needed.”

In addition, as the steel bridge community has in the past, NSBA and AISC members stand ready to assist in restoring traffic with either a temporary or permanent bridge structure, Abnee stressed.

“This horrific incident serves as a reminder about the decaying state of our country’s infrastructure—not only bridges, but also roadways, railways, power stations, and even steam pipes under our older cities,” Abnee said. “Our organization is dedicated to reversing this deterioration through continued advancement and improvement in materials, designs, and technologies that will make our nation’s structures safer and more reliable than ever.”

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