By Bethany Ashman

On November 2, 2011, the Lehigh Valley ASCE Younger Members Forum (YMF) and students from Lehigh University and Lafayette College attended the 3^rd Annual Allentown Bridge Tour.  The tour was led by Dr. Ben Yen, from Lehigh University, with guest speakers Greg Kuklinski and Jim Pudleiner.  The tour consisted of various types of bridges including the 8^th Street Bridge, a concrete open spandrel arch bridge, the Ward Street Bridge, a steel bridge with a metal grate deck, and the 15^th Street Bridge, the oldest operational prestressed concrete bridge in Pennsylvania.

Greg Kuklinski added to the bridge tour by explaining the environmental impact studies and the complex hydrological analysis that is often needed when designing bridges.  Mr. Kuklinski is currently working with the contractor for the Ward Street Bridge to replace the current bridge.  The insight of Greg allowed everyone on the tour to have a greater understanding of everything that is involved with bridge design.

The last stop on the tour this year was Bogert’s Bridge on the Lehigh Parkway.  Bogert’s Bridge is the oldest covered bridge in Lehigh County, built in 1841.  Jim Pudleiner recently inspected the bridge and had everyone fascinated by the different rehabilitation methods used to keep the bridge operational for the numerous runners and bikers that use it every day.