Tag: Structural Inspection

High Mast Light Poles Light the Way for Drivers

By Michael Noesen, PE, and Tim Howell, CBI It’s a given that nighttime driving is more hazardous than daytime driving. Visibility decreases even when a vehicle’s headlights are on. High mast lighting is one of the tools roadway engineers use to help improve visibility for motorists. It provides a safer environment for motorists when designed… Read More »

How Much Weight is Too Much for a Bridge? Engineers’ Ratings Have the Answer

In mid-May of 2018 a driver crossing a bridge in the Town of Lafayette in Chippewa County, Wisconsin, noticed something was wrong with the bridge. Town officials quickly saw the problem – the bridge had a major crack in the deck, and a pier pile holding up the bridge had buckled, causing the bridge to… Read More »

Culverts: The Essential Infrastructure You Never Knew You Needed

By Dan Sydow, PE The so-called “atmospheric rivers” that have dropped massive volumes of rain upon California this winter are calling renewed attention to the importance of adequate flood control infrastructure across the United States. About the Expert: Dan Sydow, PE, is Structural Engineering Group Manager of Ayres’ Midwest Transportation division. He has designed hundreds… Read More »