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Department of Highways, District 5
Transportation Cabinet Opens Its Doors to Trimble County Students
FRANKFORT, KY -- (February 10, 2006) -- A field trip to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet in Frankfort helps local Trimble County Middle School students in their quest for knowledge about repairs to the US-421, Madison-Milton Bridge. Students who are part of the schools' Espirit Accelerated program used the day at the cabinet's central office building to conduct research on the bridge.
Carla Goins is the group's teacher. "We chose this project because it's of interest to both communities involved. The facts will be looked at and shared with all parties. We would also like to thank the Transportation Cabinet for offering their help in this effort."
The field trip will also help local students as they compete in a national competition sponsored by the U.S. Army called eCYBERMISSION. Through eCYBERMISSION, students in grades six through nine compete for regional and national awards, while working to solve problems in their community. The competition incorporates science, math and technology.
Officials with the cabinet granted them access to records about the bridge’s routine upkeep. Part of this process includes periodic scouring in which diving engineers test the structural support of a bridge while underwater.
Ken Watson is Administrative Section Supervisor of Maintenance with the cabinet. "When the group contacted us with their request, we thought a field trip would be more cost effective opposed to copying thousands of records at 10 cents per page. It was our pleasure to aid the students in their efforts."
Ms. Goins says the students have already met with officials from the City of Milton and Trimble County in Kentucky and they plan to meet with representatives from Madison, IN next week to discuss the bridge's future. The group has until February 21 to submit their results. Judging will take place February 24 through March 16. If the students win the regional competition on April 11, their project will advance to the National Judging and Educational Event to be held June/July 2006.
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