ETHICS Read it and Answer these question (1-200 words)

Review actions and/or possible actions:

- How did you think that authority, practices, or policies shape the actors choices?

- What potential actions could have changed the outcomes? Or, what are the potential actions?

Bridgest On August 1, 2007, the 1-35W bridge over the Missis- "older design features and, while it is not unsafe for sippi River in Minneapolis, Minnesota, collapsed all vehicles, it cannot safely accommodate current traf- during rush hour, resulting in 13 deaths and a multi- fic volumes, and vehicle sizes and weights." In 2003, tude of injuries. The bridge was inspected annually 27.1 percent of bridges in the United States were dating from 1993 and every 2 years before that since deemed either structurally deficient or functionally its opening in 1967. The most recent inspection, con- obsolete. ducted on May 2, 2007, cited only minor structural The ASCE urges that "America must change its concerns related to welding details. At that time, the transportation behavior, increase transportation invest- bridge received a rating of 4 on a scale from 0 to 9 ment at all levels of government, and make use of the (0 = shut down, 9 = perfect). The rating of 4, although latest technology" to help alleviate the infrastructure signifying a bridge with components in poor condition, problem involving the bridge system. In order for meant that the state was allowed to operate the bridge Americans to answer this charge, they must be aware without any load restrictions. of the problem. What role should engineers and engi- A bridge rated 4 or less is considered to be "struc- neering societies play in informing the public about turally deficient." According to the U.S. Department of the state of U.S. bridges? Should engineers lobby for Transportation, this label means that "there are ele- congressional support and appropriate amounts of fed- ments of the bridge that need to be monitored and/or eral spending to be allocated to bridge repairs and repaired. The fact that a bridge is 'deficient does not reconstruction? imply that it is likely to collapse or that it is unsafe. It means it must be monitored, inspected, and main- REFERENCES tained." In some cases, load restrictions are placed 1. ASCE, "Report Card for America's Infrastructure," on structurally deficient bridges. 2005. This document can be accessed online at Although the cause of the I-35W collapse is still http://www.asce.org/reportcard/2005/index.cfm. under investigation, the incident raises important ques- 2. Minnesota Department of Transportation, "Inter- tions about the state of U.S. bridges. In Minnesota, state 35W Bridge Collapse, "2007. This document can be accessed online at http://www.dot.state there are 1,907 bridges that are structurally deficient, mn.us/i35wbridge/index.html. which means they have also received a rating of 4 or 3. U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal High- lower on inspection. Bridges may also be considered way Administration, "1-35 Bridge Collapse, "functionally obsolete," a label that the American Minneapolis, MN." This document can be Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Report Card for accessed online at http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/ America's Infrastructure defines as a bridge that has pressroom/fsi35.htm