Sep 18, 2008
Video of crossing the new I-35W bridge for the first time.
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Some friends and I were among the first to cross the new 35W bridge this morning.
It was a wonderful traffic jam.
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© 2012 Abuyo. All rights reserved.
What time ws this taken….were you there at 5:30 am?!?
4:45, actually.
I love the soundtrack of your crossing. Perfect choice!
Home Depot for you. Target for me. Petsmart for Dusty.
Ohhh, that made me laugh.
Hal-le-lu-jah, hal-le-lu-jah!
Hooray! This is fantastic coverage of the opening. I felt like I was there.
Amanda is right, the soundtrack is spot on.
Great editing in such a short time! So fun. I laughed. I cried. Well, not really, but I experienced heightened awareness of my tear ducts. That’s gotta count for something.
I totally lived vicariously through this video. Thank you. It was a good ride.
God bless America (and the 35W) !
The Lord God omnipotent DOES reigneth over the 35w.
Thanks Aber! It’s great to have this account of Mpls history, especially for those of us not in town at the moment.
This took only a year to complete – pretty impressive. I hope they didn’t cut corners to get it done so fast! :]
hey man, like the video! the collapse of the bridge made the news here in the UK, but somehow i doubt the reopening will be covered. don’t you worry though, i’ve brought it to england on my blog! hooray for the internet! ;)
Jan, I don’t think they cut corners—it’s just a straight line.
okay, i had to wikipedia to know what you were talking about, but it’s all coming together now. “A new bridge replacing the collapsed span opened on September 18, 2008, months ahead of schedule and under budget.” congratulations!
love the video! virginians are happy that your bridge is restored! ha! i actually got wet eyes! hey.. i cry at maxwell house commercials too! seriously, glad mpls has their bridge!
Carissa,
I suppose I shouldn’t assume everyone knows my local news.
Thanks for taking the time to figure it out.
Jan and Abraham–
Not really any corners OR a straight line. It curves–vertically, at least.
Yesterday an MPR story was about the large number of sensors that will constantly monitor the bridge’s structure, use, and wear –http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/09/17/smart_bridge/
Thank you soooo much for doing this! I laughed hard for a long time at this one. Mathis, your revelation of excitement was truly moving! hahahaha. i can’t wait to drive on this bridge myself. Thanks!
Fun video—cool how Pete was interviewed!
Nice.
Northerners say queue? This is strange language for a Southerner. I thought it was only used across the pond where people have funny accents.
Pete was a prime candidate, since the reporter was from the Fox station in Duluth. He did a great job, but we can’t see the finished product because the station doesn’t have a website.
I cannot believe Pete got interviewed! What a fun morning, and one definitely worth it. Now you guys can come to our house to hang out now in record time!
Thank goodness it’s done, I will no long hear the questions from the backseat, “Mommy, is the bridge done yet?” *repeat 10 times* As I beat my head on the stearing wheel. :)
I’m happy to have experienced it through your video and not by getting up at 4 something in the morning…the music was perfect.
Wow, that was AWESOME! I love how everyone was honking. We had a similar tragedy in our city in 2006 (overpass collapsed onto a highway) and when they re-opened the overpass 1 year later people just sped over gripping at the steering wheel. It was really eerie…
a restoration is always exciting and happy… whether it is material or relationship.. it was a fun clip.. congratulations, minneapolis.
Rejoicing with you in what God has done to restore the bridge and the lives of the people who were struck with tragedy because of it.
~jane
My husband is a civil engineer who has been working on site at the new I-35 W bridge for the past 10 months. He commented to me last night before bed that he wondered how many people would actually get up before dawn to be the first in line to cross the new bridge. I can’t wait to show him your footage! He’s crossed over the new bridge countless times in his vehicle already and after many long days and overnight shifts, he was just happy he didn’t have to be onsight until 7:00 a.m. this morning.
I feel like I was there. Maybe I can do all early morning events vicariously through you Abraham. Please continue recording.
Yeah I can’t wait to cross the bridge when I’m home for a visit in a few weeks!!!!
My favorite part just might be the second and a half at the end when you guys are in McDonalds. Classic.
[...] Abraham Piper and his people cross the new bridge in Minneapolis. They were giddy. I can’t imagine that [...]
“I can’t wait to go to Home Depot!” That was hilarious! Thanks for posting this!
“Abraham Piper and his people…” You have people? And why aren’t we part of your people? I thought we were friends?!?!:-)
I knew you wouldn’t want to come.
I suppose the fact that you KNOW that we are not morning people and are only up at the hour when we HAVE to be could be evidence that you know us well enough to call us friends!
Great video guys! I wonder how we missed each other! I was in the “queue” at 4:50 entering 35W from 55.
May Christ be exalted in Minneapolis in tragedy and triumph.
I knew my commute this morning was missing something (other than the 4, count them, FOUR, minutes the rebuild shaved). I neither played the Hallelujah Chorus nor honked…what was I thinking?!? I just drove normally. However, at the pre-dawn hour of 6:13, I did take notice of the gateway memorials that were so beautifully illuminated. And, I praised our Lord for all He put in motion to rebuild, and even collapse, the I-35W bridge. Oh, and thanks for the touching video, Aber :)
A couple thoughts – we also choose to live early morning events vicariously through you, Aber AND way to document a/an historic event.
Wait … “I can’t wait to go to Home Depot?” and “I go there a lot?” Was that you Abraham?
YAY!
EXCELLENT — enjoyed it! Thanks for sharing! Great choice of music…good commentary…love the ending “traffic jam” at McDs.
(I was sent the link through the 22 Words blog)
Melissa
How much did DG contribute to have the bridge open in time for the National Conference? I’m especially glad that The Lord God in all his omnipotence sped the work along to be convenient to my driving around the Twin Cities next week.
That made me laugh. You got Jess and Pete to roll out that early? WOW, Hal-le-lu-jah, hal-le-lu-jah!