The northern end of the 35W Mississippi River Bridge is now considered to be the most likely area of the bridge to have failed, according to a report from Minnesota Public Radio. 

“We don’t believe the southern portion of the bridge is where the accident began,” said National Transportation Safety Board Chair Mark Rosenker, MPR reported.

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Police have identified the eight people still missing in the bridge collapse.  They are Richard Chit, Peter Hausmann, Greg Jolstad, Vera Peck, Christina Sacorafas, Sadiya Adam Sahal, Hannah Sahal and Scott Sathers. 

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CNN is reporting that construction on a replacement bridge over the Mississippi River could open as soon as late 2008, with a contract for the bridge reconstruction to be signed within the next six weeks.