News Release Archive

45th Annual Colorado High School Bridge Building Competition to be held February 25

Media Contact: Lauren Meredith, (303) 445 - 2945, lmeredith@usbr.gov
Peter Soeth, psoeth@usbr.gov

For Release: February 22, 2012

The Bureau of Reclamation will be hosting the 45th annual Colorado High School Bridge Building Competition at its research facility in Denver on February 25.

The competition brings together high school students from throughout Colorado to test the strength of their model bridge designs. It will begin at 8:00 a.m. and host approximately 75-100 students from high schools throughout Colorado.

The small-scale bridges are made only out of basswood and glue. The model bridge that can hold the most weight in contrast to its size is declared the winner. Top winners in the competition will qualify for the International Contest in Las Vegas this spring.

Attendees will have a chance to tour Reclamation's hydraulic and materials lab, where they will see the humidity room, working models of structures and projects and dam construction materials. They will also witness a demonstration of the lab's 5 million pound-press as it crushes a 2,000 pound concrete cylinder at the end of the event.

The event will take place at Building 56 of the Denver Federal Center. Enter Gate 1 and follow the signs.

The competition is a collaboration between the Professional Engineers of Colorado, the American Council of Engineering Companies of Colorado and the Bureau of Reclamation.

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The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.