HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetter to BOS - Bridge Load Safety �oARD of st�p��vrso�s
March 6, 2009 AR 23 2099
Dear Commissioners:
I am enclosing information about the development and use of a unique method for increasing the
load carrying capacity of aged steel truss bridges economically and expeditiously with no
extended interruptions of bridge traffic. This method will allow today's traffic loads safely. Also,
disputes between those interested in the safety and engineering needs of truss bridges and those
interested in historic preservation can be resolved. Even with the recent stimulus appropriations
of$29 billion for road and bridge infrastructure construction and improvements, there will not be
enough funding to repair most structurally deficient bridges, not to mention the additional costs
of newly planned bridges. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (Penn DOT) alone
estimates that upwards of$11 billion will be needed to repair its 5,935 structurally-deficient
bridges in the Commonwealth. Lack of funding and delaying improvements on these unsafe
bridges will risk the public safety and also the economic climate. If you find interest in learning
about our unique method of truss bridge strengthening, we would be happy to discuss it with
you.
As a side note, the tragic collapse of the 1-35W Bridge in Minneapolis collapsed on August,l,
2007, killing 13 people and injuring 145, may have been prevented if this deck truss bridge was
reinforced with our method of reinforcement. I was interviewed on August 1, 2047 for the
evening news by an NBC affiliate in Chicago, and in the news I declared that the collapse was
due to failures of joints in the deck truss bridge. My declaration was confirmed in the November
8, 2008 Final Report by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
Sincerely,
h
Jai B. Kim, P.E., Ph.D.
5 South 15th Street
Lewisburg, PA 17837
Phone: 570-577-3 3 91(or 1112) (Office)
570-570-3500 (Residence)
570-490-7811 (Mobile)
E-mail:jaikim@bucknell.edu
[Professor of Civil Engineering
Bucknell University
Lewisburg, PA 17837]
V t
C
�? y IIS 1��'��l,i �� 'i}.•� • w
• �,103�= �� lar lP� i� .. , "'.Y�'4+i _
If dffJr
•; (
15
• 0 •
m d m f V.+m•Y
r 09169L'h313) '� n
cl
r
_ r
n
f =
M
�'s (00'96SZ 153T3) �` Y n
a1z 80 4C+L9.^YlS 4 �
8
co
l
IF
v
g� �d
$ (99v=-A313)
W YY }
oodLm
y
r
n _
Orvn � b
v {4i'66SZ Godbe
oomm .
ooft
ioz / 8d wn c
o !
COON
� (Lraasa A9'�) W 000ba
z oaoba
ooCo9
000b
000w
U
4,1
a. 8 O 112.
A 11 iU1RVI d1
it Ei 0,10 v a O x
a �dy U,a 4
po R' F FR Dal 17 N Q
nil >
jai I U11 4 ell
cn a€
cn
WW
g
z z egg:
oxw1s03tl 3B Ol mvna�t a H
_ B G ��a� rrra urucna aru eo riainae_
(YON X33SO $ _
r a �
Is
14
rr
1 e
t
w°
u
i a-3 W+
.-------------
J1� d
o--
d