David B. Steinman - Postwar Work

Postwar Work

Steinman and his firm were also in charge of the major rehabilitation of the Brooklyn Bridge commencing 1948. Structurae.de has an image of Steinman jauntily perched in mid air in the cables of the bridge, perhaps one of the best known images of him.

But there were still long span suspension bridges to be built. Steinman was responsible for the Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge (1957). More importantly, development and planning of the Mackinac Bridge had been contemplated for some time, and Steinman was appointed to the board of engineers based on Michigan State Legislature legislation of 1950, stating "the board of engineers retained by the Mackinac Bridge Authority was to be selected and nominated by the Dean of Engineering at the University of Michigan," and was soon the spokesman for the board. But his health was failing and he suffered heart attacks in 1952, the same year the legislature approved funding. He was nevertheless heavily involved in all aspects of the construction of the bridge from start to finish.

From the beginnings of his work on the Mackinac Bridge, Stewart Woodfill was impressed with Steinman’s ethical procedure in addressing his requests. In 1950 new legislation was produced stating "the board of engineers retained by the Mackinac Bridge Authority was to be selected and nominated by the Dean of Engineering at the University of Michigan" (Ratigan 280). This was to make sure that there was no political influence it this decision. Steinman was selected to be a member of the board. Steinman who had been trained since he was young to work well in groups was chosen as the spokesman for the board. When it comes to speaking in front of large audiences Steinman does it naturally. It was said that Steinman spoke "as comfortable before large audiences as he was on tall bridges" (Petroski 332). The stresses of the early stages of the bridge soon took their toll on Steinman. He had heart attacks in 1952, which was the same year that legislation approved the financing and construction of the bridge.

Although he proposed a grandiose 1524 meter center span crossing of the Sicilian Straits of Messina, the "Mighty Mac," completed in 1957, and at the time the longest suspended span between anchors, was his last major achievement. Steinman died in 1960.

At the time of his death, he was president of the Society for the History of Technology.

--Tribute-- In closing, Dr. Dunn said this about the need for a broader education for engineers, "If the engineer’s training neglects the great human mirrors of history and languages, if his heart and mind are insensible to the great social forces, if he but feebly develops the subtle qualities of character that make for personality, his career is limited, no matter how much science he knows" (Ratigan 315).

The Steinman engineering firm is now part of the Parsons Transportation Group (company site) as of 1988.

David B. Steinman Click on the image to enlarge it. Associated with the following firms:

Formerly Founder(s) Robinson & Steinman Steinman, Boynton, Gronquist & Birdsall Steinman, Boynton, Gronquist & London

Biography Education Studies at the City College of New York and Columbia University 5 August 1890 Emigrates to the USA with his family at the age of 4. 1909 Master of Arts, Columbia University. 1910 - 1914 Teaches at the University of Idaho (Moscow, Idaho) 1911 Doctorate at Columbia University 1914 Works on the Sciotoville Bridge under Gustav Lindenthal 1917 - 1920 Professor of Civil and Mechanical Engineering; Later opens his own design office with Holton D. Robinson 1920 - 1940 Bridges in the United States, Thailand, England, Italy, Haiti, Puerto Rico, Canada, Korea, Iraq 1931 St. Johns Bridge in Portland, Oregon and cooperation on the George-Washington-Bridge 1948 Begins reconstruction of Brooklyn Bridge 1953 Proposal for the Messina Straits, span of 1524 meters; Develops new method of stereo photography

Participation in the following structures Role, name of structure (year of completion) Structure part Chief engineer Mackinac Straits Bridge (1957) 3 Designer Carquinez Strait Bridge (1927) 2 Constance and Georgina Islands Bridge Deer Isle Bridge (1939) 5 Georgina Island Bridge (1938) Grand Mère Suspension Bridge (1929) 2 Henry Hudson Bridge (1936) 4 Hercilio Luz Bridge (1926) 5 Hill and Constance Islands Bridge July 14 Bridge (1962) Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge (1957) Mount Hope Bridge (1929) 1 Saint John's Bridge (1931) 17 Sky Ride (1933) Sullivan-Hutsonville Bridge (1939) Waldo-Hancock Bridge (1931) 2 Wellesley and Hill Islands Bridge (1938) Wellesley Island Suspension Bridge (1938) Structural engineer Hercilio Luz Bridge (1926) 5 Market Street Bridge (1905) 1 Assistant engineer Hell Gate Bridge (1916) 8 Redesign Brooklyn Bridge (1883) 102

Participation in the following large-scale projects Role, name of project (year of completion) Structure part Designer Thousand Islands Bridge System -->