Mark Yashinsky has spent the last 34 years as a bridge engineer at Caltrans and has worked in the Caltrans Office of Earthquake Engineering since the Loma Prieta Earthquake. Among his many duties is leading the post-earthquake inspection team, developing new seismic criteria, and managing the seismic retrofit program. He has written a number of books, papers, and articles on bridges and earthquakes. (mark.yashinsky@dot.ca.gov)
Every damaging California earthquake has resulted in changes to the California Department of Transportation’s (Caltrans’) seismic practice. The most significant changes occurred after the 1971 San Fernando Earthquake. Bridges at that time were designed for a small seismic force, which resulted in extensive damage to bridges and interchanges during the earthquake. …