Student's bridge endures test

Cal State Long Beach civil engineering students won high awards in a regional steel bridge building competition against 13 other colleges in the Pacific Southwest Conference on May 31.

The CSULB team of engineers placed first in the categories of stiffness and efficiency, and also won second place in the overall competition.

In order to qualify for the competition, the bridges must be 18 feet long, weigh 150 pounds and be able to support 1,800 pounds.

The competition, which was hosted by the National Society of Civil Engineers at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, was judged by members of the American Institute of Steel Construction. The categories were judged on a point scale system, giving the competitors points in each category. The points are then totaled to determine an overall winner.

CSULB Civil Engineering student Julio Ramirez, a member of the four-person design team for the bridge said that the team is currently preparing to enter their bridge in the national competition which will be held before the end of the current school semester.

Ramirez said that preparation for the competition will be difficult for the team because the competition will be close to final examinations, but they will do what they can.

The bridge will be on display in the Vivian Engineering Center on April 22 with the team's award placards which are currently displayed in the VEC building in front of the civil engineering department office.