Now that engineers have determined that a ruptured diaphragm plate led to the failure of a pair of cables on a 2,200-ft cable-stayed suspension bridge in Minneapolis, they are turning their attention to potential causes of the rupture, as well as fractures uncovered on two additional plates in late February.
Meantime, city officials say they are satisfied with results of an October inspection of the Martin Olav Sabo Bridge that assigned its 18 sets of cables and anchors the highest possible rating for soundness and lack of corrosion. The four-year-old bicycle and pedestrian bridge also received top ratings in previous inspections, which are performed annually and primarily rely on visual analysis, says Minneapolis Director of Public Works Steve Kotke.