Now that the bridge collapse has been shown to most likely have been caused by a faulty design, I can only assume that each of the people who wrote letters blaming Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Transportation Commissioner Carol Molnau will write in with their apologies.

GREG NAULT, LINO LAKES

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Since Rep. Jim Oberstar seems to have all the answers on the Interstate 35W bridge collapse and we taxpayers pay his salary, why are we paying for an expert who is giving engineering analysis that conflicts with Oberstar's and other DFL opinions?

ROBERT KELLEY, PRIOR LAKE

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I find it ridiculous for the National Transportation and Safety Board to say the failure was due only to underdesigned gusset plates. I'm sure that was a contributing factor, but not the complete answer to the failure. When you review the many inspections by MnDOT and outside consultants who recommended immediate repair to those structural members that had deteriorated to a critical condition, why then were we resurfacing the roadway? If you were told by your auto mechanic that the brakes on your car are about to fail, would you say "forget the brakes, I would like that new sunroof installed?"

A. GEORGE ROOTES, BIG LAKE

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The NTSB revealed that a primary cause of the I-35W bridge collapse was a design flaw -- gusset plate thickness should have been twice that which was installed. The resulting "gusset plate" collapse of DFL demagoguery further reveals reasons for voters' disgust with our Legislature majority's pattern of partisan vitriol rather than responsibly legislating for the common good.

GENE DELAUNE, NEW BRIGHTON

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How ironic is it that DFL and its media lapdog chorus are crying "politics" about the bridge collapse. Perhaps, just perhaps, it's the Democrats who once again are turning this tragedy into political theater.

TOM MALONE, MINNETONKA