| Related Stories:
|
| Keywords: | |
|
Big Mac Chief Engineer to Speak
For more information on this story contact:
Kim Nowack, who has gained fame as the first woman ever to serve as chief engineer of the Mackinac Bridge, will visit Michigan Technological University Monday, Nov. 18.
Nowack, a 1985 Michigan Tech graduate, will give a talk, "Yesterday, Today and Beyond," at 7 p.m. in Room 641 of the Dow Environmental Sciences and Engineering Building.
A native of Grand Rapids, Nowack was named the bridge's chief engineer this spring. She oversees all of its maintenance projects, from the structure's $75 million repainting to repairing its guardrails. In addition, she is monitoring the installation of a $2.1 million security system.
Nowack began her career with the Michigan Department of Transportation after earning her BS in Civil Engineering with honors from MTU. Before being named chief engineer, she worked as supervising engineer at the MDOT regional service center in Newberry, where she designed highway projects, including resurfacing and culvert and drainage work. She also supervised the reconstruction of I-75 north of the Mackinac Bridge to U.S. 2.
At five miles, the Mackinac is the longest suspension bridge in the Western Hemisphere and handles 4.7 million vehicle crossings a year, which generate about $10 million in toll revenues.
Nowack has said she feels privileged to play a role in the maintaining and preserving this million-ton state landmark. "It will be here before you come and a long time after you've gone," she noted.
Nowack's visit is sponsored by the Michigan Tech Transportation Institute and the Visiting Women and Minority Lecture Series. For more information, contact Tess Ahlborn, 487-2625, tess@mtu.edu. |
|
