Every engineer has a spark—a moment or a structure that piques their interest or ignites their passion for understanding how these structures came to exist. For some of us, that moment came the first time they stood in awe of the George Washington Bridge. Spanning the Hudson River between New York and New Jersey, this marvel of engineering is more than just steel and cables. It stands as a living monument to ingenuity and vision.

With 14 lanes of traffic and over 4,700 feet long, the George Washington Bridge isn’t just the world’s busiest bridge (104 million vehicles annually as of 2019), it’s a symbol of how engineering allows growth through connecting people, cities, and ideas. Named after our nation’s first president, George Washington, a man widely recognized as America’s first engineer, the bridge stands as a fitting tribute to the engineering discipline that builds nations. In fact, National Engineers Week, celebrated each February, typically coincides with Washington’s birthday—a subtle but powerful reminder of engineering’s place at the very heart of American history.

That same spirit inspires our work. One project in particular being the award-winning West Terre Haute Trail Bridge in Terre Haute, Indiana, which also stretches beyond 4,400 feet. Though a much smaller scale compared to the George Washington Bridge, designing a bridge of this length wasn’t just a technical achievement; it was a personal milestone for many members of our team. We pushed ourselves to develop this complex pedestrian bridge project and were rewarded with a finished product that positively impacted the community through connectivity and added safety. This structure is used daily by locals who commute on foot or bike to their jobs, who previously used the shoulders of busy US 150 as a much more dangerous alternative. It also provides a scenic destination for those in the community to enjoy the outdoors with the overlook of the Vigo County Wabashiki Fish and Wildlife Area.