"Functionally Deficient!"

I watched the NBC news, live from Minneapolis, reporting about last nights bridge collapse. 13 % of all bridges in the US are said to be "functionally deficient". This I-35 bridge was not due to be replaced until 2020. "Corrosion and fatigue", two main reasons a bridge is determined to be "functionally deficient". How scary!

There are 4 confirmed dead, and 30 missing, imagine if it were one of your loved ones was "missing". How awful. I feel for those families and friends, and I pray for them.

So, when you cross a bridge over water in your car, do you ever think about the bridge falling down? MPR listeners were asked that question today and most of them that called in said they don't. As one person said, that bridge with it being part of I-35, she doesn't even think that it is a bridge, as she's driving over it...most of them are high so that you don't even see the water. I have to agree that when driving around the metro area of the twin cities, even though you go over many, many bridges, you usually aren't aware of it.

The bridges that I really am aware of and have worried about when driving or riding over, are those I've crossed when traveling, the unusually high or unusally long bridges, for example, the ones I've always worried about are the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, the Mackinac Bridge in Michigan and the Sunshine Bridge we went over in Florida in April. Sometimes. though, I do think about our two major bridges here in the twin ports, over Lake Superior, but that's usually only when the weather is bad. But, boy, after last night I realize that it's not just these unusually high or long bridges we should be worried about. Especially hearing tonight's report! So many bridges in America are 40 years or older and weren't built for the traffic volume we have in 2007! Also, most of these bridges that should be replaced, often are delayed due to not enough money. Safety shouldn't depend on money! One Senator said that "Bridges in America shouldn't just fall down"! Amen to that! Let the bridge inspections begin and let's get some transportation money into the federal funds to help repair and replace these "functionally deficient bridges!" Continue to pray for those missing, and all those involved in yesterday's tragedy!