Minneapolis people

[teigyr]

We're watching online videos of the bridge collapse. I hope everyone and their relatives are ok, it looks really scary. A co-worker's daughter lives there and he can't get through to call her, I guess all the circuits are busy.

[northstar]

I live just over a mile from the bridge...we are ok, thank goodness. Part of the bridge came down over a very popular area to cycle (West River Road).

I just can't believe it happened. Rush hour and Twins traffic.

[Mr. Bloom]

It's unbelievable. Looks like the aftermath of an earthquake...without the earthquake!

[northstar]

Extra scary thing is that my dad actually works for the construction company (PCI) that was doing the concrete maintenance on the bridge surface. He milled that bridge last weekend. Word is there is one PCI worker who is unaccounted for. I'm so thankful my dad wasn't out there....

[teigyr]

It looks so scary just from the pictures. Northstar, I'm glad you and your father are ok...and I hope everyone you know is accounted for. I hear there are still people stranded on the bridge?

[northstar]

At this point I don't think there is anyone left on the bridge. There are cars, etc. burning and a lot of rescue workers out there.

[teigyr]

How will this impact traffic and people getting to their jobs? I know Seattle would practically be shut down if a bridge were to be lost. It's scary because some of ours are very old...I will drive extra fast over them when I go home tonight.

[pyxichick]

Thanks for your concern.

This is very surreal. I ride under that bridge all the time. I was on a bike ride south of St. Paul when it happened. I had such a weird bad feeling tonight I almost didn't go on my group ride because I was having such bad vibes, but I shook it off because I promised the group I'd practice paceline training for a team time trial coming up. On a big downhill I was at the front of a four-person paceline and I heard that horrendous sound when bikes crash. Two of the women in my line were lying on the ground and traffic luckily stopped in time. It was very disturbing to see teammates go down like that, especially when I was leading the line. Some of us continued our ride, and about 20 min. later, another teammate got a phone call from her husband telling her what had happened with the bridge.

The ride home was quiet and eerie, not just us, but the traffic, the people in St. Paul, everything was just weird.

The governor's car was just leaving the gov's mansion while we rode by on Summit Av.

I crossed the river on the way home and there were people standing there looking upriver and a rescue boat was going by.

When I got home there were frantic messages from my family, all worried about me and wondering where I was.

Waiting for my sweetie to get home from the Twins game. His cell phone is sitting here on the kitchen counter, so I have no idea when to expect him.

Northstar, I'm glad your dad is okay. This is so sad, I can't even watch t.v. Just listening to NPR.

Take Care everyone,
Kate

[Tri Girl]

I just saw what happened on tv. Oh my goodness- what a terrifying evening! I can't imagine what your city is going through right now- so saddened for everyone.
I'm praying extra hard for a very low casualty count- and for most to return home safe and sound tonight...

[KnottedYet]

http://www.abcnews.go.com/US/popup?i...Index=1&page=1

[LBTC]

Extra butterflies to get Pyxichik's sweetie home safe and soon. And to help the rescue workers find *everyone*!!

Terrible, terrible thing to see

Hugs,
~T~

[Trek420]

A co-worker's daughter lives there and he can't get through to call her, I guess all the circuits are busy.

Reminder, in an emergency such as this stay off the phone.

Leave the lines open for emergency workers.

The reason is dial tone is a finite thing. You would think we can all call at once but there are a limited (while amazingly huge number) of circuits in each central office. If everyone calls or calls in at once, then all circuits are busy.

Obviously internet works and you may be able to text message.

If there's anyone on this board who needs to contact people out of the area to let them know you're ok, one option could be to post and I'm sure a TE'er out of the area can call your people. I'll be up for a while, others will too while I think and pray for the families.

Pyxichick, I'm sure the stadium has evacuation plans to get people informed of safe alternate routes and home safely. And I'll bet he'll never leaves without his cell phone again ;-) Please let us know when he's home safe.

[KnottedYet]

I will be up for another 15 minutes or so. I have free long distance thru my cell phone. Anybody in Minn/St.P needs to contact someone out of area, let me know and I will pass on the message. PM me.

[crazycanuck]

Holy !!!

pyxichick-i hope your sweetie comes home soon..
NOrthstar-good to hear your dad wasn't there.

To all other folks in the area, our thoughts are with you.

Take care

C

[Grog]

My thoughts are with you all.