‘Don’t worry’: WMU professor on MI’s bridges after Baltimore bridge collapse
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Images of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsing after a cargo ship crashed into one of the support beams Tuesday morning have left many worried about traveling across bridges, even here in Michigan.
But even with those concerns, one Western Michigan University engineering professor said that Michiganders should not have fear when driving over bridges in the state.
“I want to tell the public, ‘Don’t worry about driving over bridges. Our wonderful engineers at the Department of Transportation make everything safe,'” Dr. Upul Attanayake with WMU said.
6 presumed dead after cargo ship causes Baltimore bridge to collapse
Attanayake called the bridge collapse in Baltimore “a very unique incident” given that the entire 1.6-mile structure fell in a matter of seconds after being struck by the ship. He told News 8 that while the video is shocking, it shouldn’t deter drivers from continuing to travel over bridges in Michigan.
“They are very rare,” he said. “So I don’t think people should get panicked by looking at this.”
Michigan inspects and prepares for potential incidents on and around bridges, Attanayake said. Every two years, bridges must be checked by licensed individuals, and if there is a massive issue found, most bridges are closed within 24 hours of the inspection until they meet the standard.
Attanayake also added that Michigan’s bridges are still in good standing but hopes that in the future, there will be an increase in infrastructure funding to keep them that way.
“Do we have long-term funding to have the programs for maintenance of these bridges? Because we have a large volume of bridges,” Attanayake said. “We need to have continuous funding, dedicated funding for infrastructure. But safety-wise, bridges are safe.”
Although the bridges in Michigan go through inspections routinely, there are still instances in which an accident could occur like what was seen in Baltimore.
The crew aboard the cargo ship in Baltimore sent out a mayday call before it collided with one of the bridge supports, which officials have credited with saving countless lives. Attanayake said that there are similar precautions in Michigan to help avoid additional damage.
“The police get involved, the public safety and they will close the road and then inform the highway. So, the Michigan Department of Transportation will come, they will have inspectors coming and looking at the bridge and decide whether they can keep the bridge open or close the bridge,” he said. “It all depends on what is the specific scenario. They can send the crew to look at the bridge and meantime work with local public safety or police to close the road and take necessary actions. So always the safety is first.”
Attanayake also told News 8 that in the future, there may be technology that will detect and notify authorities if there is even a minor amount of damage or change to the structure.
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