Short Span Steel Bridges Rolled Beam & Plate Girder
Plate Girder and Rolled Beams are Common Superstructures for Short Span Bridges
Rolled beam girders from the Jesup South Iowa Bridge Project
Plate girder and rolled beam (also known as wide flange shapes) are common superstructure elements for short span steel bridges.
- A rolled steel girder is a girder that has been fabricated by rolling a blank cylinder of steel through a series of dies to create the desired shape. These create standardized wide flange beam shapes up to 120 feet in length.
- A plate girder is a girder that has been fabricated by welding plates together to create the desired shape. The fabricator receives large plates of steel in the desired thickness, then cuts the flanges and web from the plate in the desired length and shape. Plate girders can have a greater height than rolled beam girders and are not limited to standardized shapes. Plate girders can span up to 300+ feet in length.
If you are looking for a rolled beam or plate girder bridge supplier, please see Find-a-Supplier for a complete company directory.
Case Study
Bridges of Franklin County: Why Missouri is Turning to Steel
Franklin County, Missouri, saved $283,000 by selecting steel over concrete for four short-span bridge projects, demonstrating that simplified designs combined with a competitive bidding process can deliver exceptional value, durability and long-term performance.
Accelerated
“New and Improved” – Modern Steel Construction
In an article from Modern Steel Construction, the emergency replacement of a damaged northwest Pennsylvania bridge resulted in a safer, more efficient steel bridge, with SSSBA member High Steel Structures as the fabricator and detailer for the project.
Case Study
Steel in Action: On-Demand Steel Bridge Video Series
Watch this four-part, on-demand video series featuring expert-led case studies on cost-effective, resilient short span bridge projects—now available with downloadable presentation materials.
Case Study
Galvanized Steel Railway Bridge Assembled Off-Site, Installed in 11-Days
The Assonet River Railroad Bridge in Massachusetts was fully assembled off-site using galvanized steel and installed in just 11 days, minimizing environmental impact and ensuring long-term durability for expanded commuter rail service.
Decks
Pennsylvania County Selects Hot-Dip Galvanized Steel for Urgent Bridge Project
For a recent bridge replacement, Mercer County chose a hot-dip galvanized steel bridge to ensure a durable, cost-effective solution that could be delivered quickly and withstand a corrosive environment.
Case Study
Whitman County Saves 32 Percent with Steel Superstructure
By choosing a steel beam girder bridge, the county reduced the overall project costs and decreased the time for construction.
Sustainability
Steel Bridge Restores Fish Migration in Olympic National Forest
A new 70-foot steel bridge in the Olympic National Forest restores a vital fish passage, demonstrating steel’s durability and adaptability for environmentally sustainable infrastructure.
Rolled Beam & Plate
MoDOT Reimagines Rural Steel Bridges through SDCL Design
Missouri Department of Transportation’s FARM Bridge Program applies Simple for Dead Load and Continuous for Live Load (SDCL) steel bridge design to deliver cost-effective and durable solutions for rural bridge replacements.
Design
AREMA/NSBA Present Constructability and Fabrication Guidelines for Steel Railroad Bridges
The new AREMA/NSBA guideline outlines key considerations for railroad bridge design, including girders, trusses, floor systems, decks, walkways, bolting, corrosion protection, and construction practices.
Design
NSBA Posts Updated Guide to Navigating Routine Steel Bridge Design
This updated free guide from NSBA walks engineers through the design process, focusing on the specific provisions of the AASHTO specifications that apply to routine bridges.
Buried Bridge
On-Demand Steel Bridge Video Series: Learning By Example
A distinguished panel of 8 industry experts to present case studies that offer innovative and cost-effective examples of steel bridge replacement projects.
Accelerated
Steel Industry Accelerates Rebuild of I-95 Bridge Project
Cleveland Cliffs is providing steel to High Steel Structures for the accelerated permanent reconstruction of a bridge section of I-95 in Philadelphia that collapsed in June.
Design
West Virginia DOT Publishes Standard Bridge Plans for Short Span Bridges
The SSSBA Bridge Technology Center worked with the West Virginia Department of Transportation to developed standard bridges plans for composite rolled beam and plate girders.
Design
SSSBA Provides Bridge Owners With Complimentary Design Details
The complimentary service allows for the production of standard rolled beam and plate girder designs for highway bridge applications.
News
Steel Story – FF Journal
Poised for an infusion of cash, America’s infrastructure looks to steel for low maintenance, lightweight solutions that are quick to install.
Case Study
County Saves $30,000 Using a Prefabricated Steel Bridge Instead of Concrete
Whitman County, Washington installed a prefabricated steel bridge using a local county crew and saved $30,000 over a concrete structure.
Case Study
Philadelphia Reconstruction Project Wins NSBA Steel Bridge Award
The Vine Street Expressway (I-676) Bridge reconstruction project wins the National Steel Bridge Alliance 2020 Short Span Prize Bridge Award.
Design
NSBA Guide to Navigating Routine Steel Bridge Design
This guide is intended to complement the AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications and addresses the design of steel superstructures for “routine steel l-girder bridges.”
Case Study
Buchanan County Provides Virtual Tour of Iowa Steel Bridges
In this 20 minute video, county engineer Brian Keierleber provides an in-depth overview of 5 steel bridges built in Buchanan County, Iowa.
Video
Video: Options for Short Span Steel Bridge Solutions
This video provides a summary of economical short span steel bridge solutions to consider for various lengths of crossings.
Blog
Ohio County Accelerates Cost-Effective Bridge Replacements With Steel
County saves over $10,000 using galvanized steel beams over concrete box beams.
Rolled Beam & Plate
Steel Bridge Improves Habitat Conditions for Fish and Wildlife
A 75-foot single span rolled beam bridge in Oregon improves habitat conditions for fish and wildlife by restoring natural stream hydrology.
Case Study
Plate Girder Short Span Steel Bridge is Built Using Design From eSPAN140
The High Point Lane bridge in Missouri was built utilizing preliminary designs generated from eSPAN140.
Case Study
Short Span Shake-Up
Missouri short span bridge study finds steel saved 25% over concrete.
Rolled Beam & Plate
Muskingum County’s Short Span Steel Bridge Solution – Quicker, More Cost-Effective and Constructed in 30 Days!
Muskingum County used local crews to construct a steel bridge in 35-days.
Sustainability
Ohio County Finds Creative, Sustainable Steel Solutions for Bridge Replacement
Muskingum County saved $51,000 by using repurposed beams.
Case Study
Missouri DOT Selects Steel for 45 Foot Span Bridge in Scott County
Galvanized rolled steel beam beat out concrete by 2.5 percent in this Missouri DOT project.