Snow: Bridge inspections up to states

WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 (UPI) -- White House spokesman Tony Snow told reporters Thursday in Washington that U.S. bridge inspections are a state responsibility.

Snow called the collapse of a highway bridge over the Mississippi River in Minneapolis "a unique catastrophe."

"The Department of Transportation sets standards for doing inspections, and states carry out those inspections, and they do so on a regular basis," he said.

But Snow also promised a vigorous federal investigation into the collapse and federal assistance to Minnesota. President Bush is scheduled to visit Minneapolis on Saturday.

Transportation Secretary Mary Peters had described the bridge as being rated 50 on a scale that goes up to 120, meaning that it should be considered for replacement in the future, Snow said. But he added that does not necessarily mean the bridge was unsafe.

The collapse occurred during construction work on the bridge. It took place at rush hour with the roadway jammed with cars.