I think that would be more work than restoring the bridge, however.
More to note:
Authorities still do not know what caused the 6:05 p.m. collapse. Engineers had theories including heavy traffic and construction work that might have put an undue burden on the span. The bridge was deemed "structurally deficient'' by the federal government as far back as 1990.
Minnesota transportation officials spent another day dealing with scrutiny arising from reports and inspections over the years that raised alarm about the bridge, including rust-eaten steel beams, missing bolts and cracks in the welding that held load-bearing parts together.
A consulting company that thoroughly examined the bridge noted that one possible fix — steel plating of fractures — carried a "relatively high cost,'' according to a January report. Transportation officials deny that cost pressures swayed their decisions.
