Return to Governor's Information Forum
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, February 25, 1997
CONTACT: John Cox, 405-523-4206
Governor Keating said, "Ice free bridges mean safer transportation, lower maintenance costs, longer bridge life, and less environmental injury because chemical de-icing of the bridge deck will no longer be required. I commend Neal McCaleb and Oklahoma State University for the development and implementation of this project and I look forward to seeing how the bridge actually performs once everything is in place."
The bridge, which will be located on the H.E. Bailey Turnpike near Chickasha, is expected to be installed this spring and operational by next winter.
The unique feature of the 'smart bridge' is its ability to anticipate the development of weather conditions conducive to ice formation. The bridge is connected to the statewide weather sensing system, Mesonet, which provides several hours of advance warning that icing conditions are developing. When warning signals are received a heated fluid is circulated through tubes installed in the bridge deck. The heat is provided by a ground source heating system similar to that installed in the Oklahoma State Capitol in 1990.
McCaleb said, "At the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority we are always looking for better ways to serve our customers by improving safety and maintaining our existing facilities in peak condition. The 'smart bridge' will help us accomplish both tasks and will serve as an important step toward a more effective road weather information system."
Ron Elliot, Professor of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering at OSU said, "The Mesonet will allow us to not only monitor weather conditions in the immediate area of the bridge, but also to track the progression of weather systems entering Oklahoma. It can tell us if advancing fronts carry the potential for precipitation or other conditions that are conducive to freezing the bridge deck."
Jim Bose, Professor and Director of the Division of Engineering Technology in the College of Engineering said, "We've done similar work with biosystems and agricultural engineers in evaluating soil thermal properties for the installation of ground source heat pumps. This marks the first time that we have worked with them on the Mesonet and together we've developed a dynamic system."
President Halligan said, "Oklahoma State University is proud to have played a role in developing safer, more user-friendly highways. The 'smart bridge' concept is another example of the university at work in helping solve problems in the public interest."
MEDIA NOTE: Audio of today's announcement is available by calling the Governor's audio line at 405-523-4202.