In the decade since 9/11, Engineering Associate Professor Eric Williamson has been designing structures that are safer and more resistant to collapsing.
Science & Technology - Terrorist Attacks 
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Protecting bridges from terrorist attacks
By Melissa Mixon, Cockrell School of Engineering
Published: Sept. 9, 2011
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The condition of Texas bridges is deplorable, the number of deficient bridges is skewed due to the vast number of bridges in Texas. If you start paying attention when you travel under a bridge look where the beams set on the caps or abutments and you will begin to see the large number of beams that do not have a bearing pad under them resulting in a concrete on concrete connection and these are failing fast.
Are our bridges any safer since the I-35 bridge in MPLS collapsed just a couple of years ago? It's been rebuilt; was any of this incorporated in the new bridge? Given that about 60% of bridges need repair/replacement, it would seem a good place to start with a jobs program. (Certainly better than bankrupt "green" companies!)