Civil
Engineering Make a Difference
Eddie Belk can go to work everyday knowing he has
made a difference in the lives of thousands of Memphians.
Belk is a civil engineer. The fruits of his labors,
and those of his fellow professionals, are everyday necessities that people often take for
granted - roads, bridges, harbors, rivers and other public infrastructure.
There are many specialties within civil
engineering, including structural, transportation and environmental. Transportation
engineers plan and maintain roads, bridges, harbors and waterways. Environmental engineers
are concerned with ensuring infrastructure projects adhere to environmental laws
concerning issues such as air quality, water quality, waste water management, storm
drainage and landfills. Structural engineers concentrate on designing the structural
framework for buildings and bridges.
Belk graduated with a bachelors degree in civil
engineering from Christian Brothers University in 1984 and he went on to earn a master's
degree in engineering management. He has been a civil engineer for 14 years, most of that
time with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
"I would encourage people to think seriously
about civil engineering," Belk said, "It is a rewarding career and gives you the
opportunity to improve the quality of life. It is stable and there is always a good,
strong demand for engineering regardless of the economic situation."
And the pay is good. Starting salaries for
engineering graduates with a bachelor's degree averaged $33,119 a year in private industry
in 1997, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers. The median
annual salary for all civil engineers who worked full-time was as $46.000 in 1996.
Public Service
One of the biggest benefits of civil engineering is
making an impact on the lives of fellow citizens, said Dr. John B. Jernigan, vice
president of transportation/civil engineering division at Ellers, Oakley, Chester and Rike
Inc. (Ph.D. from the University of Memphis)
"If you live in it, ride on it or work in it,
a civil engineer had a hand in the design and construction of it," Jernigan said. He
has been a civil engineer for 38 years. He received a bachelor's degree in civil
engineering from the University of Mississippi and also has a master's degree in
transportation engineering.
Jernigan has had a hand in many important projects
that have shaped Shelby County. Right now he is working on designing a new taxiway at
Memphis International Airport that will join the new eastside north-south runway to the
Federal Express facility on Winchester Road. The project includes a bridge that spans
across Winchester Road.
His firm is also working on improvements to Hacks
Cross Road from Winchester to the Mississippi state line. The busy thoroughfare is being
expanded from a two-lane rural road to a seven-lane urban street complete with curbs,
gutters and thicker pavement to handle the increased traffic along the road.
Belk is especially proud of two projects he has
worked on. One is a two-mile-long harbor in Helena, Ark., which that city hopes will spur
economic development.
One of his most visible endeavors is the Memphis
Front Project. It involved a number of river improvements, which included stabilizing the
bluffs along the Memphis reach of the Mississippi River. This project added increased
acreage to Tom Lee Park.
So the project served a dual purpose. It ensured
the stability of the bluff while creating a larger public area that has been enjoyed by
millions of Memphians and tourists alike.
Good Qualities
When Jernigan considers hiring new for engineers
for his firm, he considers how good their people skills are, how strong their math and
science background is, along with arts, history and communication skills.
"Communication is important in any field." Jernigan said.
Good civil engineers like to figure out how things
work and how to make things work, Belk said. Engineers should enjoy public service and
have good problem solving skills. Armed with these admirable qualities, civil engineers
can embark on making the world a better place.
