Saturday, August 04, 2007

'Go after the designer,' says Minneapolis bridge checker

The inspector who signed off on Minneapolis' Interstate 35W bridge almost every year since 1994 refused to accept blame yesterday for the collapse that killed at least five people.

"Go after the designer. Go ask him why he did what he did," Kurt Fhurman angrily told the Daily News at his home. "Go after the designer."

Fhurman and another inspector from the Minnesota Department of Transportation conducted inspections of the bridge every year but one since 1994, state records show.

Fhurman, who was hostile and refused to elaborate on his comments, implied the cause of Wednesday's disaster was the design of the bridge - a roadbed sitting atop a metal truss."

Duh. From the moment the bridge fell, everyone with half a brain who'd ever driven across the thing knew WHY. I said as much upon hearing of the disaster. A trip across the thing was done with fingers crossed, and the locals laughed at anyone who'd ask why that bridge, why ANY bridge would shake and groan like that.

They've the BILLIONS to spend on new stadiums for the Vikings and Twins, but would poo-poo the scardy cats who wanted to know why they didn't build bridges like everyone else built bridges.

But of course now they're all in deep shock and remorse.

Yeah right.

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