As victims of last year’s Minneapolis bridge collapse prepare to sue the state of Minnesota, we are reminded of the tragedy that hit too close to home for many, leaving the rest of us wondering if it could happen in our state, our city, or our neighborhood, and trying to figure out how such direly needed repairs slipped through the cracks.
On August 1, 2007, the Interstate 35W bridge collapsed, killing 13 people and injuring 145 more after plunging them 60 feet into the Mississippi River. Now, five months later, surviving spouses and parents of children riding on a school bus have filed to sue the state for compensation.
While many of us wonder how such negligence in the maintenance of the bridge occurred, some companies such as Material Technologies, Inc. (OTCBB: MTTG) (MATECH) are surging forward to prevent another catastrophe like this from ever happening again.
MATECH recently used its patented Electrochemical Fatigue Sensor (EFS) System to inspect a fracture-critical bridge in West Sacramento, Calif.; this is just one of many inspections as demand grows due to nationwide safety concerns boosted by last year’s accident. The EFS system has the ability to determine which existing cracks are growing, if new ones are beginning, and if repairs are up to par.
The company’s system can detect metal fatigue, measurement and monitoring for bridges, railroads, airplanes, ships, cranes, power plants, mining equipment, piping systems and more.
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