A Message From FES President Ronald Colas
Dear fellow FES members,
The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore has prompted significant discussions among engineers. In the wake of this tragedy, many have speculated on the cause and whether this could have been prevented. While reflecting on the loss of life and such a significant structure, I sympathize with the families who have lost their loved ones and the people of the community who have lost their method of transportation.
As an engineer, I could not stop thinking about these three points.
1) Bridge Design and Protection:
The Francis Scott Key Bridge’s main structure over the navigation channel is a continuous three-span Truss Bridge. It has been in service for almost 50 years. The dolphins and fenders that protect the main piers and critical components of the bridge against impact from navigational vessels were not designed or intended to withstand impacts from the very large cargo vessels we see today. I am not convinced that the bridge designers at the time envisioned that a super cargo ship would ever exist.
2) Safety and Vigilance:
Engineers and transportation workers diligently ensure highways, bridges, and waterways are safe. While the probability of being injured in a bridge collapse remains low, the Baltimore incident serves as a reminder that safety cannot be taken for granted. We need to remain vigilant and continually assess and improve bridge designs and maintenance to better protect against catastrophic events like this one and keep safety in mind while performing these inspections and maintenance procedures. While the stop flow of traffic was monumental to the safety of commuters and is commendable, the loss of bridge workers is devastating. We must prepare for situations like this in the future. Creating “Safe Plans of Action” and evacuation procedures when performing bridge maintenance could be instrumental in preventing future loss of life.
3) Learning from Failures:
Engineers must continue to assess the vulnerability of older structures still in service and collaborate with owners on ways to retrofit these structures against potential failures.
In summary, the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge serves as a reminder for bridge owners and engineers to reassess the conditions of many of our country’s bridge foundations and structures crossing large bodies of water. The safety of the traveling public and bridge maintenance workers remains paramount.
Ronald M. Colas, P.E. S.I., FES Fellow | Jacobs | Vice President
FLPR Transportation Strategic Growth and Business Development Manager
Ronald.Colas@jacobs.com