 The dramatic collapse of a bridge over the Mississippi in Minneapolis on the afternoon of Aug. 1, 2007, put the American people on notice as never before that major parts of the nation’s infrastructure are disintegrating. The collapse killed 13 people and injured 145. It sent federal and state authorities into action across America, examining bridges with the same design, looking for defects that could put motorists in danger. On May 8, 2008, the governor of Minnesota signed “a $38 million package to compensate victims for their injuries and losses.”
In a terrifying 13 seconds, both spans of the Interstate 35W Bridge fell into the Mississippi River during rush hour, plunging dozens of cars into the water, leaving some submerged under concrete slabs. For days, the media buzzed with video of the bridge as it fell, victim accounts of the tragedy and stories about the reasons for the collapse. Then, it disappeared from the news. Today, few are talking about the dangers that motorists and construction workers will face as the nation begins repairing its woefully neglected infrastructure. “According to a 2005 Highway Administration report, more than 75,000 of the nation’s roughly 600,000 bridges” are structurally deficient. Eleven years ago, a major report warned the federal and state authorities that many portions of the U.S. Interstate Highway System, including its bridges, were in dire need of repair. By 1985, half of the system had reached its design life. By 1995, 90 percent of it was more than 20 years old. Road construction is dangerous work Road construction should take a big jump in coming years as federal and state authorities vote crucial funds for highway repair and begin work on the nation’s roads. Projects large and small will choke highways and streets with potentially dangerous conditions for drivers as well as construction workers toiling a few feet from moving vehicles. Road construction accidents are inevitable. Highway and street signs may not adequately warn drivers that they are approaching a construction zone or the zone itself may not have enough signs to let drivers know what to expect. Flagmen may be absent. Guard rails may have been removed. Unmarked dips or bumps in the road could cause drivers to lose control. Lighting may be inadequate at night. Rain and snow can make construction zones particularly treacherous for drivers even when workers and big earth moving equipment is absent. They are sobering proof that a rise in these accidents can be expected to accompany the increase in road construction. According to its latest statistics, The Federal Highway Administration reports that more than 40,000 people are injured each year in work zone car crashes. Eight-five percent of those who die in the approximately 1,074 work zone deaths are drivers or the occupants of their cars. These cases belong in the hands of an experienced personal injury lawyer skilled at sorting through the facts to determine fault and securing damages to compensate victims.
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