Publications [#268181] of Henry Petroski

Papers Published

1. Petroski, H, A bridge and observatory, American Scientist, vol. 96 no. 1 (January, 2008), pp. 14-18, Sigma Xi, ISSN 0003-0996 [doi]
   (last updated on 2023/06/01)

   Abstract:
   The 75-year-old Waldo-Hancock Bridge is one of the National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark as it even became vital to tourism and commerce in coastal Maine. However, supplementary cables were added to it due to its poor condition. Yet, this was still not enough as a replacement bridge was needed that should be built quickly. The authorities planned to construct a cable-stayed bridge just south of the existing structure. The manner of the design and how it was built was considered as an innovation. A cooperation between the Main Department of Transportation, the Figg Engineering Group and the contractor partnership firms of Cianbro and Reed & Reed has been called "owner-facilitated design-build". This cooperation did fast-track construction where the foundations were designed and built before the plans for the superstructure were complete. They have designed cable to be in the deck only on one side of a tower and will pass through the sleeves in the tower which eliminates any significant transverse force. This bridge has a three-level observatory at the top of its west tower, making it a unique bridge in North America. This observatory as well as its appurtenances are well designed with its ticketing process, with the road leading down to a parking lot and to the pinnacle of the obelisk.