Bridge Over Troubled Water

The I-35W bridge over the Mississippi River in Minneapolis collapsed in August 2007 killing 13 people, and effectively shutting down a major traffic artery through the city. A friend from St. Louis had been working in the area at the time, and she was only a few miles on her way toward the bridge when it collapsed. MNDOT immediately began rebuilding, and the project was completed while I was working in the area.
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This is the view from the southbound lanes where the interstate was closed at the bridge.
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This view is passing next to the new bridge construction from the 10th Avenue bridge. This photo was taken in late April/early May 2008, and the two spans of the bridge are close to being connected.
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By mid-summer, the spans were connected, then the paving and finishing touches were started. This is the view from the pedestrian bridge at St. Anthony Falls at the lock & dam, just north of the new bridge.
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The new bridge opened to traffic on Sept. 18, 2008, one day less than one year from the time construction began.
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The design and construction of the new bridge is considered an engineering marvel. Even so, I still wondered if it would hold as I drove across for the first time, but even my mom should feel comfortable driving across this bridge. The Poplar Street Bridge in St. Louis is a different matter, altogether.

"The Poplar Street Bridge in St. Louis is a different matter."