Hoan Bridge to Somewhere

Finally - today I met a civil engineer that specializes in foundation design. The company he works for contracts with the DOT. And I imagine the Feds get in on it, too.

Yes, they do use a version of AutoCAD for some presentation functions but they also use a much more complex project management application as well. I think he said something that sounds almost like Maxwell Systems ProContractorMX. It was a little difficult to tell. I could do a better job understanding his English - with a little practice.

He’s a young fellow from Bangladesh and has been in Milwaukee for five years after a couple years at Univ. of New Mexico. He attended prep college at home on a scholarship.

“Welcome aboard,” I said, “First of all, you’re the first person I’ve ever met from Bangladesh, and secondly, I’ve been waiting to ask you some questions.” (I am counting customer countries of origin. This person represents my 31st country.)

And, so he told me a bit about the care and concern he puts into designing interstate highway foundations. Lives are at stake, maintenance is critical and politics over funding is the tough part of the game.

His company is now working on the Hoan Bridge project. I almost invited myself into his office to take a look at the modeling software.

I want to see how to add another inch of gravel for 10 miles or how much more concrete does it take to add a lane. How many tons of steel are involved? What if we did add a bike lane? I hope I wasn’t drooling.

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More of the people I meet as a customer shuttle driver at a Greenfield auto dealer on my Patch blog and here: ShuttleDave.blogspot.com