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After spending countless hours of clicking news channels, trying to get the latest information on the lives of people on the bridge that crashed in Minnesota, it occured to me that once again we didn't watch for the signs of things to come.
Maybe there weren't any signs to see, maybe it was overlooked by someone that ran out of time, maybe it was passed up because a budget couldn't pay for it or maybe it was overlooked completely and no one thought of what MIGHT happen.
I always thought that rules, guidelines and policies were made for a purpose. Somehow, I thought that these were the ways we used to look ahead, for the problems that we do not want to occur.
After the Bridge disaster in Minnesota, all of the lives that were taken unnecessarily, the families who's lives will never be the same; I guess I thought wrong! My heart goes out to each and every one of the family and friends that are left behind. My sincere condolences!
Why is it that we have rules in place all over this wonderful nation and they are not followed right down to the bare essentials, we always have to get one more day, one more month or one more year out of something, that needs to be repaired? True, some of these bridges need minor work, but since this isn't the only bridge that this has happened to; did it ever dawn on anyone to upgrade the criteria on repairs?
I have heard in countless news reports that states 'just don't have the money' for these repairs. Well, then I guess I would just shut the bridge down-did anyone think of that? It would be inconvenient in many cases, but wouldn't it save lives?
Progress is great, it helps to make life simpler and easier (in certain circumstances), but the long-range upkeep of a project like this should be taken into consideration (as well as the cost of repairs going up from year to year) before the first girder goes up. I don't see how you can keep adding weight to a structure (repairs), have increased volume of traffic as well as increased weight of vehicles on a continuous basis and not have something 'give' in due time.
Now, all states are checking into bridges in their state, to see what needs to be done with them. At least in Wisconsin, our Governor has listed them and they have been publicized in newspapers, so everyone is aware of them. If you do not trust them, take an alternate route!
I hope this has opened the eyes of the DOT, to let them know, that a small crack can lead to loss of life. Please take the time to upgrade your policies or close down faulty bridges until they can be checked properly, we may be inconvenienced but we will all be alive and still grumbling about the inconvenience!
It is true that the actual cause of the problem has not been found, as of yet, but while things are still fresh in our memories all of the questions that arise to find the answer to the problem, should be used to upgrade the check-points on bridge repair. This may be a learning experience for everyone, it is to bad that someone had to die first.
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