By Matt Barcus
President, Precision Executive Search, Inc.
Managing Partner, www.CivilEngineeringCentral.com

Early Monday morning an unscheduled bridge inspection revealed a major crack in a bridge pillar on a major portion of I-95 on the north side of Philadelphia.  This portion of I-95 is a major artery into the city.  Major props to PennDOT for not only discovering this potential deadly deterioration and making the public aware so they could adjust their routes, but for the effort that was put into getting the temporary structure up around this support pillar so quickly.  This temporary structure took the weight off the pillar so PennDOT could move forward with the necessary repairs, while at the same time allowing traffic to safely proceed on this portion of I-95.  This incident not only brings into the public spotlight, again, how  our infrastructure is in dire need of repair, but it also recognizes how instrumental civil engineering professionals are in our daily lives…and nine times out of ten, their work goes unnoticed.  To learn more about this incident, follow this link:  http://www.philly.com/inquirer/home_top_left_story/20080320_I-95_reopens.html

I am not sure how much national or regional exposure this incident had, but it is a worthwhile story to be read about by the civil engineering community.  What stories can you share with us in regards to the differences that civil engineers are making in your community?