Could it happen here?

In the wake of the Interstate 35W bridge collapse in Minnesota, many Missourians are wondering if the same tragedy could strike in their state.

It’s an important question, as a recent study found many of Missouri’s bridges are in desperate need of repair. Of the state’s 24,024 bridges, nearly 20 percent (or 4,595) were deficient, according to a 2006 study by the Federal Highway Administration. Only Iowa, Pennsylvania and Oklahoma have more bridges in poor condition, according to the study.

How do we fix the problems? How do we know when a little crack doesn't spell disaster? These are questions UMR researchers -- like DJ Belarbi, Genda Chen, Nick Marianos, and John Myers, to name a few -- are tackling.