Steel Bridge Projects Featured in Hot-Dip Galvanizing Awards

Above image is the Lane Avenue Bridge (Columbus, Ohio), galvanized by SSSBA member V&S Galvanizing. Article and images provided by the American Galvanizers Association.

On April 6th, the American Galvanizers Association (AGA) announced the winners of the 2022 Excellence in Hot-Dip Galvanizing Awards during the members-only Annual Conference. More than 100 projects were submitted, representing a variety of applications of hot-dip galvanizing.

This year’s winners showcased the sustainable and innovative use of the hot-dip galvanized coating. Several steel bridge projects won awards during the annual event.

Lane Avenue Bridge (Columbus, Ohio)

Category: Lifetime Achievement (projects with a minimum of 15 years in service)

The Lane Avenue Bridge has stood the test of time for nearly twenty years, thanks to hot-dip galvanizing.

Lane Avenue Bridge, galvanized by SSSBA member V&S Galvanizing, has stood the test of time for nearly twenty years, in part thanks to the choice to hot-dip galvanize all of the steel components on the project. The design team and owners wanted the bridge to be maintenance free to avoid future closures, as the road is a critical connection on The Ohio State University campus on either side of the river. To date, there are no signs of corrosion and no dollars have been spent maintaining the zinc coating – helping the team realize the goals set twenty years ago.

Learn more about the Lane Avenue Bridge.

Lizotte Bridge (Deschaillons-sur-Saint-Laurent, Quebec)

Category: Lifetime Achievement (projects with a minimum of 15 years in service)

Amazingly, the zinc coating thicknesses on the Lizotte Bridge still meets specification for new coatings, and there has been zero corrosion driven maintenance performed.

The Lizotte Bridge is the world’s first fully galvanized bridge crossing the deep 200-foot span of the Chêne River with a triple arch design. The bridge used 350 tons of steel and cost $320,000 to build plus $11,000 for hot-dip galvanizing. After 58 harsh Canadian winters of salt and grit and heavy traffic, Lizotte Bridge is still earning its keep, maintenance free, and with decades of service ahead. Lizotte laid the path forward and heavy promotion by Canadian zinc companies led to the first galvanized bridge in the US in 1966. Thousands more have followed worldwide, thanks to the Ministere des Transports Quebec (MTQ) brave investment!

Learn more about the Lizotte Bridge.

Ogdensburg-Prescott Bridge (Ogdensburg, New York)

Category: Bridge & Highway Award

The Ogdensburg-Prescott Bridge is crucial to the passage of both people and goods between the United States and Canada.

The Ogdensburg-Prescott Bridge, galvanized by SSSBA member V&S Galvanizing, is a mile and a half long international cable suspension bridge that connects the United States to Canada. This bridge was originally built in 1960, and recently targeted as a structure in need of rehabilitation. This rehabilitation project utilized nearly a million pounds of steel to bring the bridge up to standards. The Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority partnered with the New York Department of Transportation to bring this rehabilitation to life, replacing all main span bridge decking, structural steel floor beams and stringers, raised concrete safety walks, and bridge railing systems across both approach spans and the main suspension spans.

Learn more about the Ogdensburg-Prescott Bridge.

Two Lowell Bridges by the Riverwalk (Lowell, Massachusetts)

Category: Duplex System Award

The two Lowell Bridge’s major components were hot-dip galvanized post-assembly and designed to match the dimensions of the galvanizer’s kettle dimensions.

Many specifiers seek out the modern, industrial look of hot-dip galvanized steel; however, some projects call for a softer aesthetic and/or additional corrosion protection. This is often accomplished by using a Duplex System – paint or powder coating over hot-dip galvanized steel. One interesting part of this project was convincing the architects to work with the galvanizer to design whole components built to the kettle’s dimensions. Although designers are often hesitant to alter their designs, adjusting to fit the kettle can reduce cost, shorten turn around time, and improve overall aesthetics.

Learn more about the two Lowell Bridges.

Learn More About Hot-Dip Galvanized Steel Projects

To see more hot-dip galvanized steel projects, including other submissions to the 2022 competition and past winners, please visit the American Galvanizers Association website.