Huey Lewis Memorial Skyway Bridge

An Engineering Icon!

The Huey Lewis Memorial Skyway Bridge, although spectacular and majestic, fell just short of setting an amatuer Balsa wood bridge strength contest with a payload to weight ratio of 776:1

Warning...Math content ahead - - 
                                                    Tested weight :  76.6 kg  or 76600 g
                                                    Bridge weight :  98.61 g

                    Tested weight   =  Payload Ratio            76600 g  =  776 to 1
                    Bridge Weight                                            98.61 g

Our benchmark record is 850:1, which means two things:
        Either we:
            1)    Increase the strength of the bridge so it holds more weight
            2)    Take more mass off of the bridge itself
            3)    Both 1 & 2  (best scenario)

The Huey Lewis Memorial Skyway Bridge held 76.6 kg, which equates to 168.5 pounds.

Beware...the following pictures are not suitable for children under the age of 10.  If you have a history or heart disease, high blood pressure or high cholesterol, please view at your own risk!

Viewing the Masterpiece

With visions of a great future for our creation, Mr. Porinchak admires the skill and craftsmanship with went into building this dream bridge.

Looking Through Greatness

Mr. Porinchak is seen here to be peering down the length of The Huey Lewis, possibly to invision what the future may hold for it.  No one could forsee the immense destruction of such a structural icon.

Underbelly of the Beast

An upclose and personal look at The S.S.S.  (Spooner Support System)

Pouring the Sand

A perfect example of a team effort.  No children were harmed in the process of taking this sand from their sandbox.  With the utter-most care and delicacy, Mr. Posilovich is shown here to be piling pound upon pound of sand to the bucket.  As the seconds race by, The Huey Lewis is being loaded with the crushing force of Florida sand.

A View From Above

We are still within the operational stress limits...barely.

A Man's Project

A childs view of a mans creation.  Althought The S.S.S. is still holding strong, a shadow of doubt lingers over Area 52.

Shattered Dreams

Without warning, The Huey Lewis imploded upon itself and sent shards of Balsa Wood rocketing through the air at super-sonic speed, too fast for the camera to catch the action, but with enough force to bring a lab chair to the ground.

Grizzley Carnage

What was left of The Huey Lewis Memorial Skyway Bridge.

Shear Force

The Huey Lewis was brave enough to withstand enough force to bend a  3/4 " solid metal bar at a 4 degree angle.

Wow!

No fancy-schmancy computer tricks were used to distort this 3/16" inch thick metal S-hook, which hung the bucket of sand below The Huey Lewis.