Minneapolis bridge on verge of collapsing following torrential rain, flooding

A bridge close to a Minnesota dam is at the verge of crumbling into the Blue Earth River following a barrage of heavy rain and flooding.

The County Street 9 bridge, a more or less 40-year-old bridge close to the Minnesota town of Mankato, would possibly topple over if the elements doesn’t subside to permit correct structural reinforcements to happen. 

Heavy rain and flooding have pummeled the Midwest for days with Blue Earth River’s water ranges emerging dramatically, checking out the structural integrity of the Rapidan Dam.

SECTION OF HOME FALLS INTO RAGING RIVER AFTER MINNESOTA DAM PARTIALLY FAILS, VIDEO SHOWS

The dam has already suffered a partial failure, which ended in a area alongside the Blue Earth River close to the dam falling into the river, and the dam retailer within reach being demolished. The Rapidan Dam is situated about 14 miles south of Mankato in Southern Minnesota.

“Sadly, we’re on the mercy of Mom Nature at this level,” Ryan Thilges, the general public works director for Blue Earth County informed journalists Tuesday. He used to be flanked by way of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and different officers who went to the dam to get an replace on flood stipulations and restoration efforts.

Thilges mentioned that the bridge’s piers are piled thru sediment and sit down atop of sandstone bedrock, and no longer pushed into the bedrock. The gushing water has washed one of the vital sediment away, hanging the bridge’s steadiness in peril.

“The entire lateral steadiness for the piling used to be accomplished throughout the sediment that used to be in position, that were impounded within the river basin over the lifetime of the dam,” Thilges mentioned. 

“In order we are seeing dramatic ranges of river head chopping, because the river’s reducing itself down and washing away super quantities of sediment, we are dropping steadiness.”

He mentioned the water is flowing too rapid to take measurements of the sediment within the river or on the pier. Locals use the bridge to travel around the dam from rural patches of land to within reach cities.

MINNESOTA AMUSEMENT PARK STAYS OPEN WHILE CLOSING POPULAR RIDES AFTER UNPRECEDENTED FLOODING

Floodwater going across the Rapidan Dam on June 27, 2024, close to Mankato, Minn.  (Mark Vancleave/AP)

“At this time, once more, we imagine it is roughly 50 p.c uncovered. And because the river degree continues to lower and minimize the riverbed elevation down, we are very fascinated with the potential of partial or complete failure of the bridge,” Thilges mentioned. “With that being mentioned, the bridge has been closed for the reason that dam started to overtop Monday morning and we will proceed to stay it closed for public protection.”

Officers say they started shoring up the west pier of the County Street 9 bridge ultimate week with unfastened stones — referred to as rip rap — as an emergency mitigation way to keep away from additional publicity on the base of the pier. The riprap stays in position and the bridge stays closed as officers proceed to watch it for steadiness.

Walz mentioned he fears the bridge will cave in and can wish to get replaced. He gave locals assurances that it could be constructed again will have to the worst case state of affairs come to go. 

“The only factor I believe Minnesotans will have to be reassured about… we can rebuild. The fee shall be shared by way of all folks,” Walz mentioned. “So, the load won’t fall on those county commissioners.”

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, left, speaks to Blue Earth County Public Works Director Ryan Thilges (Michael Goldberg/AP)

Ultimate week, the governor’s place of job introduced that the Federal Emergency Control Company (FEMA) authorized a federal crisis declaration for 22 counties in Minnesota impacted by way of flooding. State investment supplied by way of the Minnesota Legislature may also be supplied to assist communities, Fox 9 studies. 

The dam in part failed after heavy rain ultimate week driven water across the west facet of the construction as a substitute of throughout the gates of the dam.

Development of the Rapidan Dam used to be completed in 1910. Whilst it used to be constructed to generate electrical energy, it’s been broken by way of a number of rounds of flooding in contemporary many years. An April 2023 review performed by way of the Nationwide Stock of Dams discovered Rapidan to be in deficient situation, and officers were finding out the potential for doing away with it.

The Related Press contributed to this file.