Infrastructure Week 2026: How Steel Bridges Maximize Transportation Investment (May 20)

In cooperation with United for Infrastructure

Webinar Title: Infrastructure Week 2026: How Steel Bridges Maximize Transportation Investment

Date: May 20, 2026

Time: 1-2 PM ET

Host: Presented by the Short Span Steel Bridge Alliance (SSSBA) in cooperation with the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) and American Galvanizers Association (AGA)

Cost: Free

Registration: Advanced free registration is required for this webinar through the American Galvanizers Association. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

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Continuing Education Credits: 1.0 LU/PDH (HSW Hour) provided

Overview

Join the Short Span Steel Bridge Alliance (SSSBA), American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), and the American Galvanizers Association (AGA) during Infrastructure Week 2026 for a discussion on how resilient design strategies can help maximize the impact of federal infrastructure investment.

As the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act approaches expiration, maintaining a stable Highway Trust Fund will remain important to ensuring continued investment in safe, reliable bridge infrastructure. This webinar will highlight how proven solutions in steel bridge design can support long-term performance and value.

The session will begin with a brief discussion of key federal infrastructure policy considerations, including the importance of a stable Highway Trust Fund and the role of Buy America provisions in supporting domestically produced steel and a strong U.S. manufacturing base.

Speakers will then focus on resilient bridge design approaches that address increasing demands from flooding, extreme weather, seismic activity, and higher load requirements.

This will be followed by a closer look at materials and protective systems, with an emphasis on galvanized steel and advanced corrosion protection strategies that help extend service life, reduce maintenance needs, and improve lifecycle cost efficiency—particularly in challenging or high-risk environments.

Attendees will gain practical insight into how durable materials, protective systems, and thoughtful design approaches can deliver longer-lasting, more reliable bridge infrastructure.

Speakers

Brett Smith, Senior Director of Government Relations at the American Iron and Steel Institute

Brett Smith, Senior Director of Government Relations at the American Iron and Steel Institute, serves as the liaison between AISI member companies from the domestic steel industry and the U.S. Congress and federal agencies. Of particular focus for Brett are policy issues regarding energy/climate change, transportation/infrastructure and workplace health and safety. Brett has a Master of Public Policy degree from Georgetown University and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Notre Dame.

Michael Barker, Ph.D., Professor, Civil & Architectural Engineering at the University of Wyoming

Michael Barker, Ph.D., Professor, Civil & Architectural Engineering at the University of Wyoming, received his BS and MS degrees in Civil Engineering from Purdue University and his PhD from the University of Minnesota. He is a professor of Civil & Architectural Engineering at the University of Wyoming and the director of education for the Short Span Steel Bridge Alliance. His primary research pertains to steel bridges, experimental testing, bridge design specifications, bridge field testing, high- performance steel and reliability analyses of structures.

John Krzywicki, Marketing Director at the American Galvanizers Association

John Krzywicki, Marketing Director at the American Galvanizers Association, has worked for the AGA for ten years, starting as a corrosion engineer and   later promoted to marketing director. His strong engineering background provides him with the technical knowledge necessary to effectively communicate design, performance, and sustainability considerations when using hot-dip galvanized (HDG) steel.

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