Interstate 35W Bridge, Minnesota

This bridge, arguably the most important bridge in the state, as it carries interstate traffic over the Mississippi River in the state’s largest city, Minneapolis, collapsed into the river in 2007, full of cars, during rush hour traffic. 13 people died, and 145 were injured. The bridge was 40 years old, and the cause was cited as a design flaw, compounded by insufficient inspection and maintenance management. Most recent bridge collapses in the USA are due to collisions with barges, earthquakes, floods, or other triggering events. This is a rare example of a collapse due simply to structural failure.