BRIDGE

Portrait of a shared tragedy

On the hot evening of August 1, 2007, I was at my computer when at 6:20 my son called and told me, “Dad, the 35W bridge in downtown Minneapolis has collapsed!” I was in disbelief. He went on to say he had driven over the bridge while listening to the 6 PM MPR news; the collapse happened at 6:05. Those who crossed at 6:00 PM, like my son, made it home safely, but those on the bridge at 6:05 PM plunged into the river, endured an experience that is indelible in both their lives and our memories. The collapse of the 35W bridge did not discriminate – it took all colors, creeds, socioeconomic levels, young and old down with it. Watching workers piece together twisted parts of the bridge weeks later, I felt compelled to find the survivors and share their stories. I waited nearly three years so they could heal and adjust before reaching out. Connecting with them wasn’t easy due to privacy protections, but over two years, I managed to interview and photograph forty survivors and ten first responders. My research into the mistakes that led to the disaster, and what went right to minimize the loss of life and severe injuries, was added to the exhibition. It opened at the Mill City Museum four blocks from where the bridge fell on the fifth anniversary of the tragedy.