Engineers Swarm on U.S. Bridges to Check for Flaws

This article discusses the inspection of bridges across the United States in light of the collapse of Minnesota’s I-35W bridge. The replacement of the bridge in Minneapolis by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MNDOT) is similarly discussed. The new bridge design is substantially larger than the former bridge, with ten lanes and four shoulders instead of six and two, respectively. There will also be an anticipated 100 year service life on the new structure at a cost of $150 million. The state will need to negotiate with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) regarding funding from the Emergency Relief (ER) fund, as that funding will not cover capacity increases. Structures with deficiencies that were highlighted by the disaster included Tappan Zee Bridge in New York and New Jersey’s Pulaski Skyway.