Pols push for new bridge technology

Congressmember Anthony Weiner and State Senator John Sabini are leading the charge to install new technology on bridges in order to prevent a similar disaster like the bridge collapse that killed 13 people in Minneapolis from happening somewhere else.
The two Queens representatives recently announced the introduction of new federal legislation that would provide 50 percent matching funds to cities that install new fiber optic stress detection technology on bridges.
“While our bridges are safe, we have to be vigilant and proactive in keeping them that way,” Weiner said. “This low cost and effective technology will allow us to predict problems and have virtual inspectors on our bridges 24-7; it’s simply a no-brainer.”
The fiber optic sensors would immediately detect small strains and cracks on bridges and alert the proper authorities that the bridge needs attention - before a potential disaster.
“Early intervention is always the best cure,” Sabini said. “The continuous detection of changes in structural behavior will allow for a proactive rather than reactive approach to the maintenance of our infrastructure.”
In addition to increasing bridge safety, Weiner and Sabini said that installing the new technology on a 1000-foot span similar to the collapsed bridge in Minneapolis would have cost approximately $185,000 compared to the more than $350 million expected to repair the collapsed bridge.
Weiner’s bill also calls for $500 million for the United States Department of Transportation to create a pilot program for sensor detection grants, which would fund an estimated 2,000 projects across the country.