By Margaret M. Mitchell
The theme for this issue is bridges. Utilitarian at their most basic level and breathtaking to behold at another, many make a bold statement, whether they span land or water. Erection methods and safety standards have evolved, mainly due to innovation but sometimes because of trial and error or propelled by tragedy. Regardless, bridges are vital pieces of infrastructure that facilitate commerce and connect communities.
First in the series is History Lesson, spotlighting the Columbia-Wrightsville Bridge in Pennsylvania. It spans the Susquehanna River between the small towns of — you guessed it — Columbia and Wrightsville, and at the time of its completion, it was believed to be the longest multiple-arch reinforced-concrete highway bridge in the world. The bridge has an interesting past, with its five iterations — the first three were built out of wood and destroyed by fire or water — and its link to westward expansion and the Civil War. Known alternatively today as the Veterans Memorial Bridge, it was designated a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark in 1984.
Next up we feature the Simone Veil Bridge in “An Anti-Iconic Landmark.” Set in Bordeaux, France, the bridge is part crossing and part public space. Its purpose is not to make a grand architectural or aesthetic statement, according to the architects, but instead to be a simple and clean design with a focus on performance. Despite its spartan feel, it still manages to make an impact.
We head to Alaska in “Bridging the Gap.” There, engineers faced quite the conundrum. A landslide destroyed a portion of the only road into Denali National Park & Preserve, prompting the road’s closure at that spot. The article details engineers’ efforts to quickly and efficiently build a bridge to span the landslide, battling short construction windows and tight spaces. Still under construction via an innovative truss-launching method, the 475 ft single-span bridge, once completed, will restore full access to the park and its spectacular views.
We conclude our coverage of bridges with “Revolutionizing Bridge Safety.” As inspection and safety standards improve, bridge engineers must adapt to these new requirements to ensure structural integrity and user safety. Whether the goal is preservation, restoration, or simple maintenance, civil engineers who inspect these impressive structures will need to “blend traditional expertise with technological innovation to ensure that infrastructure remains a safe, enduring foundation for the movement of goods and people,” the authors write.
We pivot our focus to water infrastructure in “Dealing with Water and a Dynamic Climate.” Fluctuating climate conditions are proving to be a challenge for water resource engineers in their quest to design resilient infrastructure. The authors conducted a literature review and a survey of their engineering colleagues to determine what is being done to ensure safe, reliable water resources in the face of a changing climate.
Finally, this issue’s special section highlights ASCE’s 2025 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure in “Upward Momentum.” It’s good news for the state of the country’s infrastructure: This year’s grade is the best since ASCE began releasing the report in 1998. Check out online coverage of the March 25 release event.
Margaret M. Mitchell is the editor in chief of Civil Engineering.
This article first appeared in the March/April 2025 issue of Civil Engineering as “Design and Safety.”
