2008 Woodie Awards
Editorial
I-35W bridge construction begins with controversy
Issue date: 10/25/07 Section: Opinions
- Page 1 of 1
Since the I-35W bridge disaster in Minneapolis this summer, Minnesotans have been left with a truckload of questions. When will the new bridge be complete? Who is building it? How much will it cost? What will it look like?
Luckily, those questions are ready to be answered, for the most part. But with those answers, the Colorado company with the winning bid to rebuild the bridge is bringing in truckloads of new questions. Exactly 21 truckloads, so far.
Flatiron, the Colorado-based construction company is here to begin building a new I-35W bridge - a topic Minnesotans have formed a sense of unity for over the sadness and pain it caused - and with their arrival comes controversy.
Flatiron, who will take longer to complete the project and charge more scarce money than local contractors who bid on the project, made a shrewd move by purchasing 21 brand new Ford trucks for this project - from a Colorado dealer.
The trucks were purchased in Littleton, Colo., then shipped to Minneapolis. Does it make sense to put a state's grief-filled money toward new trucks that could have been purchased from, and invested back into, Minnesota?
Flatiron's trucks are estimated at about $35,000 a piece, totaling more than $700,000. Interestingly enough, another 20 trucks are being considered by the company, pushing the grand total of "our" money going to Colorado at $1.4 million.
After a hefty discount, Flatiron is still spending around $1 million on new trucks, throwing away $65,000 in sales taxes alone, which could be used for just about anything and everything the state needs, including new bridges, tax cuts, health care and after this fiasco, someone with a brain at MnDOT.
Luckily, those questions are ready to be answered, for the most part. But with those answers, the Colorado company with the winning bid to rebuild the bridge is bringing in truckloads of new questions. Exactly 21 truckloads, so far.
Flatiron, the Colorado-based construction company is here to begin building a new I-35W bridge - a topic Minnesotans have formed a sense of unity for over the sadness and pain it caused - and with their arrival comes controversy.
Flatiron, who will take longer to complete the project and charge more scarce money than local contractors who bid on the project, made a shrewd move by purchasing 21 brand new Ford trucks for this project - from a Colorado dealer.
The trucks were purchased in Littleton, Colo., then shipped to Minneapolis. Does it make sense to put a state's grief-filled money toward new trucks that could have been purchased from, and invested back into, Minnesota?
Flatiron's trucks are estimated at about $35,000 a piece, totaling more than $700,000. Interestingly enough, another 20 trucks are being considered by the company, pushing the grand total of "our" money going to Colorado at $1.4 million.
After a hefty discount, Flatiron is still spending around $1 million on new trucks, throwing away $65,000 in sales taxes alone, which could be used for just about anything and everything the state needs, including new bridges, tax cuts, health care and after this fiasco, someone with a brain at MnDOT.