Mississippi National River and Recreation Area - I-35W Bridge Collapses into Mississippi River (U.S. National Park Service)

Collapsed segment of I-35W Bridge

I-35w Bridge with collapsed segment highlighted.

The collapse of the 35W bridge over the Mississippi River near Lower St. Anthony Falls on August 1, 2007 has closed the river to all commercial and recreational traffic between Lock and Dam #1 and Upper St. Anthony Falls until further notice. The US Coast Guard has declared a Safety Zone from mile marker 847 to 854. This means that entry is prohibited to all vessels and persons unless authorized by the Captain of the Port of the US Coast Guard Sector Upper Mississippi River, St. Louis, MO. Mile marker 847 is just downstream from Lock and Dam #1 (Ford Dam); mile marker 854 is just above Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam. If you have business on the river and need a permit, call the Coast Guard office at 314-269-2330.

At the site of the collapse, the Mississippi is nearly 400 feet wide. Drought and near drought conditions in the north and western sections of the Mississippi River watershed have contributed to significant slowing of the water in this area. Normal flow rates for the north portion of the metropolitan average 4500 cubic feet per second. Currently flow rates are only 1500 cubic feet per second.

Update

The City of Minneapolis has announced the closure of the following roads:

West River Parkway
Closed between 13th Ave. S to 1st St S
Local access only between 11th Ave and 13th Ave S
Local access between 4th St and 1st St S

2nd Street SE
Closed between 8th Ave SE to 11th Ave SE
Local access between 3rd Ave SE and 8th Ave SE
Local access only on 11th Ave SE between University Ave and 2nd St SE

10th Avenue Bridge
Closed between University Ave. SE to 2nd St. South
Local access to gas station at University Ave SE
Local access between 2nd St S and Washington Ave.

Broadway Street NE
Closed at TH280 Eastbound and Westbound
Local access from Industrial Blvd to the TH 280 closure

Posted on August 3, 2007

Update

The City of Minneapolis is encouraging people to bike and walk to destinations to help ease traffic congestion. Many of the local roadways in and around the freeway bridge have been closed.

The Stone Arch Bridge and Bridge #9 are also closed until further notice. Walkers and cyclists looking to cross the river should use the Washington Bridge or the 3rd Ave. Bridge in Downtown.

Cyclists who use West River Parkway should now use the LRT trail to and from Downtown.

Posted on August 3, 2007

Additional information about the I-35W bridge collapse can be found at these sites:

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