The Bridge to Somewhere

Staples High School 10th grader Jackson Blackburn was awarded first prize today in an “engineering efficiency” competition in the Teck Ed class. The competitive goal was to build a model bridge that would support the highest mass weight on the lowest weight structure. Blackburn built a Warren Truss structured bridge (similar to the structure of the William F Cribari Bridge – also known as the Bridge Street Bridge) with only 1.58 ounces of balsam wood. It supports an item weighing 101 pounds. Blackburn, whose winning structure won first place over “10-15 other bridge entries,” said it required two weeks to construct.  Expressing pride in this engineering achievement, School Principal John Dodig said, “Everything we do here (at Staples) is at the varsity level.” (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com