The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation recently kicked off its 2026-2027 “Innovations Challenge” contest, inviting high school students in grades nine through 12 to use their problem-solving, creative, and strategic-thinking abilities to develop a bridge strike prevention solution.
[Above image by PennDOT]
Submissions from student teams are due by January 29, 2027, the agency said. By February 12, PennDOT regional offices will select up to five finalists from those submissions and invite them to present their innovative solutions to a panel of judges – which will include Mike Carroll, PennDOT’s secretary – either in person or virtually. A final statewide winner will then be determined by April 2027, the agency said.
PennDOT said proposed solutions must outline a new concept that has not been used or tested in Pennsylvania or other states, and should be practical, cost-effective, and adaptable across Pennsylvania’s transportation network.
The agency added that, as vehicles have gotten larger, the risk of them striking low-clearance bridges and tunnels has increased.
In recent years, more than 600 Pennsylvania bridges have been struck by over-height vehicles, PennDOT stressed, and even when such incidents cause only minor damage, they often result in lane closures, traffic congestion, emergency response, expensive repairs, and disruptions for businesses, schools, emergency services, and the traveling public.
“Bridge strikes are not only costly and time consuming, but they are a safety hazard to Pennsylvania travelers,” said PennDOT’s Carroll in a statement.
“We’re looking to our most ambitious and creative youth to generate some innovative solutions to this all-too-common issue,” he noted.
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