The Delaware T2/LTAP Center participated with the Delaware Bridge Design Competition in April, at the Chase Center in Wilmington. Organized by the Delaware Department of Transportation Bridge Design Section, two to three hundred (we don’t count well) students, grades 7-12, designed and built model bridges and then watched as they were tested to failure, to which one was heard to say, “this is why we can’t have nice things.”
The annual event, no longer hampered by a pandemic, is a workforce development bonanza. Participating students are (mostly) pre-disposed to pursuing engineering and this event exposes them to the world of planning, design, construction, and maintenance of roads and roadway systems. In a world that is a numbers game, this gives the house an edge, and the house in this case is the world of transportation agencies.
In the several months leading up to the event, students work in teams to design and then build wooden model bridges that adhere to certain specifications. On game day, each team presents their design to a panel and answer questions. Then it’s on to the crushing gadgets that measure the load each bridge can support prior to failure. Winners in each age category win gold, silver, or bronze awards modeled from Wally the Work Zone Warrior. They also win cash prizes, although it would be vulgar to mention the amount (staggering).
Must be a good bit of down time, between all these judgings, you wonder? That’s true, so students compete to see how long they can twiddle their fingers without cramping up.
No, that’s just joshing. Turns out the organizers truly understand how to leverage the event for the best exposure of students to the many aspects of the transportation field. The under-bridge inspection vehicle is on hand to show how beam seats and other elements are examined for early wear. The newest electric bus was on display for a walk through. The signal shop brought in full size traffic signals and signal controllers. Live drone demonstrations to show how DelDOT brings efficiency and new information sources to a variety of activities. Delmarva Power brought in their high-voltage energy trailer to demonstrate safety around power lines and facilities. DelDOT’s survey team setup equipment to demonstrate their end of things. Finally, groups like the University of Delaware, the American Society of Highway Engineers, and the National Society of Professional Engineers were on hand to answer student questions about educational and career choices. The point is, the students found no time to be bored and at the same time, they seemed to really enjoy themselves.
While dozens of professionals came together for game day, the event is organized by Nicholas Dean and others from the Bridge Design Section and, as with many other events, there are many moving parts and endless coordination to make it happen. But the work is essential because the challenges of tomorrow’s bridges demand energetic and motivated new faces and this is one way of finding them.
Congratulations to Nick and the Delaware Department of Transportation for another great Bridge Design Competition! And congratulations to all the students that competed in this year’s event.
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