EMERSON BRIDGE WILL RECEIVE SPECIAL EARTHQUAKE EQUIPMENT

SIKESTON -- Leaders in the field of earthquake studies will gather in Cape Girardeau Wednesday to finalize plans for special research equipment to be installed as part of the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge under construction.

A $500,000 grant has been obtained from the Federal Highway Administration that enables the specialized earthquake equipment to be included as part of the new bridge. Participants in the meeting will determine exactly what type of equipment will be installed as well as at what specific locations on the structure.

Only a handful of bridges include the special seismic devices, said Randy Hitt, area engineer for the Missouri Department of Transportation. Most of these structures are located on the West Coast or in Japan, he said.

"We are excited about the inclusion of the earthquake research devices as part of the new bridge," said Hitt. "This will likely be the first bridge in the Midwest to feature this type of specialized instrumentation."

The equipment to be installed will include stress and strain gauges and ground positioning instruments with recorders to track movements on the bridge and surrounding land. This information will aid engineers in improving future seismic designs on bridges and other structures.

Representatives from the Federal Highway Administration, Missouri and Illinois Departments of Transportation, along with seismic engineers from MCEER of Buffalo, N.Y., MCA of Memphis, Tenn., and representatives of several consulting firms will attend.

On-site evaluation and tour of the new bridge site will be a highlight of the day's activities.