Short Span Steel Bridges 
SSSBA and Barron County Team Up for Steel Bridge Workshop
Image: Participants of the SSSBA/Barron County workshop standing on Wisconsin’s first press-brake-formed tub girder bridge – on the Yellow River, located on 15th Avenue in the town of Barron, WI.
Earlier this year, the Short Span Steel Bridge Alliance (SSSBA) published an article on Wisconsin installing its first steel press-brake-formed tub girder (PBFTG) bridge.
On September 6, 2023, SSSBA and the Barron County Highway Team collaborated on a bridge workshop at the Barron County Highway Facility to discuss the replacement of aging bridges with cost-effective, time-saving steel options for state and county bridges.
The construction of Wisconsin’s first steel Press-Brake-Formed Tub Girder (PBFTG) was completed in Barron County, WI in summer 2023.
The workshop featured:
- Five expert speakers who gave presentations on a variety of topics ranging from Accelerated Bridge Construction to prefabricated steel bridge options to Barron County’s own PBFTG bridge construction.
- Lunch sponsored by SSSBA member Valmont Structures
- Tour of the Barron County PBFTG bridge
- Tour of the Barron County Highway Facility
Guy Nelson, Valmont Structures, provided technical support for the project.
The audience of nearly 60 participants included Wisconsin Department of Transportation officials, steel fabricators, consultants, local highway officials, and galvanizers, to name a few.
The workshop presentations are available for download:
- Short Span Steel Bridge Overview, Design Tools, Bridge Economy & Life Cycle Costs (Michael Barker, University of Wyoming & Director of the SSSBA Bridge Education Center – barker@uwyo.edu)
- Prefabricated Steel Bridge Options & Accelerated Bridge Construction Solutions (Michael Barker, University of Wyoming & Director of the SSSBA Bridge Education Center)
- Steel Press-Brake-Formed Tub Girder Bridges
- Download Presentation (Guy Nelson, Valmont Structures – guy.nelson@valmont.com)
- Download Presentation – (Mark Servi, Barron County WI hiwaymark@gmail.com, Jacob Friberg, Cooper Engineering – jfriberg@cooperengineering.net and Tim MacLaughlin, Barck, Larson Construction – tim@larsonbridges.com)
Special thanks to Mark Servi, Highway Commissioner at the Barron County Highway Department, for his leadership to build Wisconsin’s first steel press-brake formed tub girder bridge.
SSSBA would like to thank Dr. Michael Barker (University of Wyoming), Guy Nelson (Valmont), Mark Servi (M & L Management Consultant LLC), Jacob Friberg (Cooper Engineering) and Tim MacLaughlin (Larson Construction) for their informative presentations.
In addition, the SSSBA would like to thank Barron County and the Wisconsin County Highway Association for hosting this workshop.
Are you looking to learn more about steel bridges?
Would a complimentary bridge workshop be right for you? Let’s talk! Please contact:
Dustin Young
Director Business Development
American Iron and Steel Institute
dyoung@steel.org
News
Missouri Steel Bridge Bundle Project Wins Prize Bridge Award
The National Steel Bridge Alliance (NSBA) named Missouri’s FARM Bridges Design/Build Bundle the 2026 Prize Bridge Award winner in the Short Span category. Fabricated by SSSBA member DeLong’s, the project delivered 31 rural bridges across 15 counties using galvanized steel and SDCL design for a 100-year service life.
Design
NSBA Releases Updated Bolted Splice Spreadsheet 4.01
NSBA’s Bolted Splice Spreadsheet 4.01 streamlines connection design with expanded options and updated AASHTO LRFD provisions for faster, more economical solutions.
News
ARTBA Reports $15 Billion Committed Through Bridge Formula Program as Needs Remain
According to an ARTBA analysis, states have committed $15 billion through the bridge formula program, yet one in three bridges still needs work.