West Virginia Advances Bridge Infrastructure Monitoring
West Virginia is the first state in the country to utilize the Stage One SMART Grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation for Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) system.
The SMART program provides grants to eligible public sector agencies to fund projects focused on advancing community technologies and systems to improve transportation safety and efficiency. The program began under West Virginia Secretary of Transportation Todd Rumbaugh. The state installed the Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) system to the Gunner Gatski Bridge in Huntington. The network of sensors and monitors are designed to catch structural threats faster than they would otherwise be found. This technology will allow engineers to monitor the infrastructure and be notified to address these safety concerns more efficiently.
When I took office earlier this year, I made it my mission to transform our Department of Transportation to prioritize the improvement of our bridges and secondary roads,” said Governor Morrisey. “This innovative technology is a clear step toward building a safe future for every West Virginian who travels our roads and bridges.”
