US
Homeland Security Focuses on Bridges
The US Department of Homeland Security plans to dismantle pieces of Maine's
Waldo-Hancock Bridge and conduct tests at an offsite location. The goals
of the testing will be to determine how vulnerable suspension bridges
are to terrorist attacks and what steps can be taken to prevent an attack.
The bridge is similar in design to many other suspension bridges, including
California's Golden Gate Bridge. DHS offered the Maine Department of Transportation
$400,000 in federal funding for the testing, which will not destroy any
part of the bridge.
Officials hope to obtain towers, cables, and sections of road for the
testing. Maine's Department of Transportation would be in charge of dismantling
the bridge, parts of which may be reassembled after testing.
