NEEDLESS TRAGEDY — PEF member Ted Fox below (shown in the hospital in November 2002) was injured in the bridge collapse (above). — Photo above by Mark E. Johnson, courtesy of the Utica Observer Dispatch; Fox photo by Wendy Seeger

Study: contractor’s faulty design caused fatal bridge collapse near Marcy

By SHERRY HALBROOK
A faulty design by a private engineering contractor was at fault a year ago when a state highway pedestrian bridge under construction near Marcy collapsed and killed one worker and injured nine others.

That’s the verdict in an independent investigation into the collapse, announced by the state Transportation Department (DOT).

“The study concludes that the bridge design did not account for the unusual slenderness of the structure or the possibility of global torsional buckling .... ” DOT states in a September 19 press release announcing the findings.
Specifically, the study concluded “the bracing called for in the design (was) insufficient to keep the bridge stable during its construction.”

Stop using contractors
“It’s a well established fact that DOT wastes millions of dollars every year by using contract engineers and consultants for bridge and highway design work that can be done for significantly less expense by the department’s own state engineers,” said PEF President Roger Benson.

“On October 10, 2002, our worst fears came true — this extravagance took a human toll that outweighs even the $123 million in needless expense,” Benson said.

“If DOT had been willing to listen to us, to two state comptrollers’ audits and to the department’s own consultant’s audit — all highly critical of DOT’s heavy dependence on contractors — perhaps this tragedy could have been averted,” he said. “A fully staffed team of DOT engineers would have chosen a design that had been approved by the DOT codes that govern bridge design.”

PEF member injured
PEF engineer Ted Fox Jr. was one of the workers injured when the pedestrian bridge collapsed onto the future Utica-Rome Expressway approximately 25 feet below while concrete for the bridge’s 170-foot-long deck was being poured.

Fox is still recuperating from his injuries and underwent surgery again last month. He is a principal engineering technician and was overseeing the final stages of construction when the accident occurred.

DOT told to expand oversight
The investigation into the collapse was conducted by Weidlinger Associates, a structural engineering firm based in New York City, with support from experts at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Penn. Weidlinger’s report was reviewed at DOT’s request by the Federal Highway Administration, which concurred with Weidlinger’s conclusions about the way the bridge collapsed and why.

The Weidlinger report blames the bridge design which was provided by a subcontractor — MJ Engineering and Land Surveying of Clifton Park, in Saratoga County. The prime contractor for the overall project is Montgomery, Watson, Harza of Utica.

The report recommended and DOT has implemented a series of changes, including new procedures for reviewing bridge designs and revised building codes for bridge designs.

Weidlinger also recommended DOT expand its oversight of unusual or unique designs for bridges.

“We strongly urge DOT to conduct its highway and bridge design work in-house with dedicated state engineers who best know and understand the rigors of serving the public and protecting its safety,” Benson said. “We’ve known for years that it will save money. Now, we see all too clearly that it may also save lives.”

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Features
Testifying on wasteful state spending
Contractor at fault in bridge collapse
Stop privatization dead in its tracks’
SEIU leads ‘Show Bush the Door in '04’
- PEF to show Bush the exit door
- How to help show Bush the door

Departments
President's Message: Bush must go
You Said It: Member's letters this month
Member Mobilization: Training gears up
Nurses' Station: protest-of-assignment
Legislative Update: Law buys time
Contact Update: Time clocks off limits
Nov. 19 Capitol Rally
Health Benefits: Roswell to the rescue
- HMO can help you stop smoking?
- Decide about your health benefits now
Retirees: Get HIP to health insurance
Health & Safety: Workplace books to go
PEF Membership Benefits & Travel Corp

Union Matters
PEF’s ’03 COPE All Stars shine
Keep hope alive at Bronx PC
PEF preps for battle to save OCFS jobs
PEF backs Gunther for state Assembly
Time clocks off the wall
OFCS member Dudley does write
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