Magyar News, 2001. szeptember-2002. augusztus (12. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2001-10-01 / 2. szám
You won't have to drive very far in Connecticut before you cross a bridge in which a Hungarian had a hand. Remy P. Papp, PE, originally from Budapest, has been involved as a consultant in the rehabilitation of most of the major bridges in Connecticut over the last 15 years. Contractors have called on his expertise for the reconstruction of the Charter Oak and Founders' bridges in Hartford, the Baldwin Bridge in Old Saybrook, the Route 1 and the 1-95 bridges over the Saugatuck River, the 1-91 bridge over the Farmington River and many other smaller bridges throughout the State. He was involved with the rehabilitation of the subway system in New York City. He also designed the Amistad Homeport in New Haven, and a couple of bulkheads in Stamford. Foundations have to be built on dry land, not in the water. To achieve dry land. Papp designs a stockade-like enclosure, made of interlocking steel sheets. These are driven into the waterbed, and then the water is pumped out. It then becomes possible to pour concrete to create the bridge's foundations. This enclosure is removed once the concrete has been poured, has set and the bridge is completed. To design these enclosures. Papp must take into consideration the composition of the riverbed, the load the bridge is expected to carry and the type of bridge to be built. Many many factors must be weighed and computed to make sure the design is appropriate and practical. "I design the hole in the water for the bridge's foundation, to put it in laymen's terms", explains Remy. "It's the only part of the bridge that is not permanent, that is removed once the bridge is completed. But without this ‘invisible’ part, the bridge could not be built." And he adds with a twinkle in his eye: "Think of me as another Moses, who started this business of parting the waters so people could cross over." Like many others of his generation, Papp saw his education rudely interrupted by World War II. He eventually obtained a degree in Civil Engineering from Columbia University, and an MBA from New York University. He has had his own engineering consulting firm in Huntington, CT since 1986. In May of this year, the Connecticut Branch of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) awarded Remy Papp its prestigious Benjamin Wright Award for 2001, “in recognition of his outstanding practice and his significant contribution to the Civil Engineering profession.” The Award is named for a Connecticut native who was Chief Engineer for the construction of the Erie Canal (1817-1826) in New York State. Before Papp started his own consulting firm, he worked for a marine and foundation contractor. He was involved in the construction of port facilities and bridges such as the Commodore Barry Bridge across the Delaware River and the second span of the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge. He spent significant time overseas, working in Nigeria, Africa, and Guatemala, Nicaragua and Honduras in Central America, as well as in the Caribbean and South America. He is well known within the engineering fraternity, and has given seminars and talks to engineering students. "As an engineer, you are involved in an act of creation," said Remy at the Award dinner. "It is a joint effort with the contractor, because neither one can create something alone, except in partnership between engineer and contractor." He noted that his father, Rémig A. Papp, who had also been involved in similar types of design and construction and had also been a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, would have been very proud to see his son honored in this fashion. Remy is currently President of the American Hungarian Engineering Society started by his dad after 1956, to help newly arrived engineers find jobs in their field. Remy is licensed to practice professional Engineering in New York. New Jersey and Connecticut. He is a member of the Moles, an association of people involved in the heavy construction field, and of the Connecticut Construction Industries Association. So the next time you drive over the Baldwin Bridge, or the bridges in Westport, or the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge or the bridges in Hartford, or visit the Amistad Homeport, think of the Hungarian engineer who helped to make it all a reality. Below: View of the cofferdam in which the footing of the bridge will be built. On the left are the steel sheetings holding the water out. After the bridge is built the sheetings will be taken away. The arrow and the mark points at a standing worker to show the size of the cofferdam. Remy Papp (left) was presented the Benjamin Wright Award Page 6 by Erika Papp Faber
