CALLING ALL GUARDS : BLUE RIBBON PANEL EXPOSES TERRORIST THREAT TO BRIDGES AND TUNNELS IN U.S.

This article outlines findings of a blue ribbon panel of bridge and tunnel experts jointly convened by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the American Association of State Highway & Transportation Officials (AASHTO) to address potential terrorist threats to bridges and tunnels in the U.S. Prioritization process has been suggested with an assessment model to be developed with relative weights for factors such as historical significance, importance in an evacuation, economic importance, replacement value, revenue value, military importance, and level of exposed population. Because of the large number of potentially vulnerable structures, the panel suggests a two-tiered approach, with a first-tier ranking based on factors such as potential for mass casualty, collateral damage, symbolic value, military significance, and location near international crossings. Overall, the panel recommends adapting calculation methods used to guide seismic retrofits, which rate risk as a factor of occurrence times vulnerability times importance. Near-, mid-, and long-term steps are proposed.

• Record URL:
  • http://www.roadsbridges.com/calling-all-guards
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/11660022
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Page range: pp 20-22, 70
• Corporate Authors:

  Scranton Gillette Communications

  380 E Northwest Highway, Suite 200
  Des Planes, IL  United States  60016-2282
• Authors:
  • Wilson, B
• Publication Date: 2004-3

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos;
• Pagination: 4 p.
• Serial:
  • Roads & Bridges
  • Volume: 42
  • Issue Number: 3
  • Publisher: Scranton Gillette Communications
  • ISSN: 8750-9229
  • Serial URL: http://www.roadsbridges.com/rb/

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridges; Surveillance; Terrorism
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00973097
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: UC Berkeley Transportation Library
• Files: BTRIS, TRIS
• Created Date: May 3 2004 12:00AM