The Minneapolis Bridge Collapse that Sounded the Alarm on US Infrastructure
- Producer:
- Drew Magratten
Thirteen people died and 145 were injured in one of the worst bridge accidents in years.
This week’s Retro Report examines the collapse and its effect on decaying bridges across the nation. Using archival footage, and interviews with survivors and those who investigated the accident, the video details what caused it to fall as well as the long-standing history of problems with the I-35W bridge.
Since the accident, states around the country are spending more money than ever to repair or replace bridges with serious problems, but transportation engineers say it’s still not enough. Last year’s collapse of another interstate bridge north of Seattle was a reminder of just how far the nation has to go to address the condition of our bridges.
More Like This
Toxic Waste in the Neighborhood: The Love Canal Disaster of 1978 is an Ongoing Mess
In 1978, toxic chemicals leaking from an old landfill thrust an upstate New York community called “Love Canal” into the national headlines, and made it synonymous with “environmental disaster.”
Princess Diana Brought Attention to Land Mines, but Their Danger Lingers
In the late 1990s, Princess Diana brought public attention to land mine victims. But, more than two decades after her death, how much progress has been made in the worldwide fight against leftover munitions?
Wild Horse Wars: Will Overpopulation Force Drastic Action?
The decades-long quest to save wild horses has run amok, creating a problem that even swooping helicopters, aging cowboys, camera-savvy activists, and millions of dollars can’t solve.
Population Bomb: The Dire Prediction That Fell Flat
In the 1960s, fears of overpopulation sparked campaigns for population control. But whatever became of the population bomb?