The Opportunity of Failing Bridges

There are obvious reasons for the U.S. to update its roads and bridges: stimulating the economy, creating middle-class jobs, improving commercial efficiency. Another equally appealing and less obvious reason for upgrading our infrastructure is the opportunity to develop the products and materials needed around the world for the next generation of bridge design.

The collapse of the bridge over the Skagit River in northwest Washington state last week was blamed on its "fracture-critical" design, meaning that when one part of the bridge fails, the rest of the structure is compromised and will probably fail as well. This is what happened in Washington when a truck with a tall load struck the top of the bridge, causing it to collapse. Two vehicles plunged into the Skagit River below, leaving three people with minor injuries.