Safety topics related to infrastructure, with a focus on bridges.
The recent earthquakes in California have more and more people thinking about the safety of bridges in areas that experience high levels of seismic activity. Unfortunately, the current situation isn’t good. Many bridges in the United States, especially older ones built before modern seismic codes were developed, are unable to handle significant seismic loads. They […]
These days, it’s wildfire season all year long. In previous decades, the North American wildfire season typically lasted through the summer and into the fall. It was centered in the warmer and drier areas of the southern and western United States. The fires were fueled by hot summer weather, strong winds and dry conditions. However, […]
According to a recently released report, at the current pace of repair and construction work, it could take 80 years or more to get all structurally deficient bridges in the United States back into good working order. In a remarkable coincidence, the report from the American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA), a group that […]
Did you know: Last year’s devastating Morandi Bridge disaster, which killed 43 people in Genoa, Italy, is directly connected to a well-known fashion company, one that you’ve probably purchased sweaters from? For many years prior to the disaster, the company’s association with the bridge was identified as a significant risk to the stability of the […]
Scientists, engineers, and designers have primarily focused their fire protection efforts on buildings and tunnels. People are concerned about being trapped in enclosed spaces when fires break out. In addition, repairing or replacing skyscrapers, shopping centers, hotels, apartment buildings, homes, and tunnels after fires is difficult and costly. Experts have spent less time — and […]
Many types of chemicals are used to melt ice and snow on bridges and roads. In this article, we’ll provide an overview of three of them, offering information about how they affect bridge and road infrastructure, along with their impact on vehicles and the environment. The three types we’ll look at are: Chloride-based deicers. Acetate-based […]
Winter is coming. It’s never too soon to start planning for weather events ahead. In this article, we’ll take a look at how bridge and road maintenance crews across the United States are preparing for winter. Arizona Most people think of Arizona as a hot and dry place, where people go to escape the winter. […]
It’s true: Corrosion is one of the biggest controllable factors that can affect the structural integrity of bridges. Corrosion is the gradual chemical erosion of metal. Experts find that more than 95 percent of structural damage on bridges can be traced back to some form of corrosion. It’s a particularly big factor on the four […]
The Morandi Bridge, a 50-year-old structure that was part of a highway system connecting the city of Genoa in Italy to France, collapsed on Aug. 14, 2018, during an intense rain storm. Dozens of vehicles fell onto a riverbed, railway, and two warehouses below the bridge, causing significant physical damage. More than 40 lives were […]
It’s extreme weather season. Last year saw record-breaking hurricanes in the southern and eastern United States and Puerto Rico, coupled with wildfires in the west and tornados in the midwest, followed by extraordinary winter weather across most of the country. People who manage bridges, and the contractors who serve them, know how important it is […]
