Winter Bridge Closures: How Structural Engineering Protects

Winter bridge spanning a snowy landscape, showing how structural engineering decisions help manage safety risks in cold weather

Every winter in Michigan, it happens again. A major bridge closes with little notice. News reports mention “falling ice.” Traffic slows. Drivers feel frustrated. Many people ask the same question: Why close a bridge if it is not broken? The answer comes down to structural engineering. These closures are not random. They are not overreactions. […]