Purdue News

January 19, 2001 Bridge maintenance, other issues explored during conference WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – A conference at Purdue University next month will cover a wide range of issues concerning the state's more than 12,000 county-maintained bridges. About 200 engineers and consultants, in addition to federal, state and local officials are expected to attend the annual County Bridge Conference on Feb. 1, said Thomas Martin, program manager of the Indiana Local Technical Assistance Program. The federally funded program, which is based at Purdue and sponsors the conference, provides technical assistance and training to highway, road and street departments of all 92 counties, 115 cities, and more than 400 towns in the state. The conference is open to the public. Registration will begin at 8 a.m. in Room 302, Stewart Center, on the West Lafayette campus. The fee is $50 for government employees and $75 for non-government employees, with a $5 discount for those who pre-register by Jan. 26. Conference issues, to be discussed during sessions lasting about 45 minutes, will include the following: • 8:45 a.m. – Charles Scholer, a Purdue professor of civil engineering, and Kevin Kirby, a contract administrative assistant at United Consulting Engineers Inc., of Indianapolis, will discuss the need for better routine bridge maintenance. For example, costly long-term corrosion from road salt could be reduced by cleaning bridge decks regularly. Removing brush growing near bridges also could prevent major damage because seemingly harmless trees can grow large enough to break supporting concrete walls. • 1 p.m. – Purdue graduate student Marc Friedman will discuss the creation of new guidelines to rate bridge rails, which are structures that act as guard rails. Unlike ordinary guard rails, bridge rails must be specially designed so they do not deflect vehicles on impact. This design prevents vehicles that strike the rails from being thrown off bridges. During the same session, Purdue doctoral student Aaron Braun will talk about his work to develop software that will make it easier for local officials to calculate the cost of bridge replacement. The computer program will use mathematical equations and incorporate cost data from previous bridge construction projects – including such factors as size, materials and various fees – to automatically compute how much a new bridge would cost. • 1:30 p.m. – "Historical Bridge Preservation – How Much is too Much?" The panel discussion will focus on how to balance the historical preservation of old bridges with the practical and economic considerations of local governments. Marsh Davis, director of community services for the Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana, and Bill Haan, executive director of the Indiana Association of County Commissioners, will lead the discussion. • 3:15 p.m. – Charlie Alvey, project coordinator of Bernardin, Lochmueller & Associates Inc., of Evansville, will discuss the need for additional funding to improve the condition of many bridges. That session, entitled "Bridge Funding – Immediate and Future Needs," will include references from a new report by Purdue researchers stating that $363 million of additional state funding is needed to bring bridges up to more acceptable standards. Source: Thomas Martin, (765) 494-2210, tcmartin@ecn.purdue.edu Writer: Emil Venere, (765) 494-4709, venere@purdue.edu NOTE TO JOURNALISTS:  The conference fee can be waived for journalists by contacting Thomas Martin at (765) 494-2210, tcmartin@ecn.purdue.edu. Those who want to pre-register should contact Sueann Smith, (765) 494-7225, smithsl@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page