American Steel Bridge Industry is Ready to Meet the Nation’s Infrastructure Needs

Article provided by the American Institute of Steel Construction and the National Steel Bridge Alliance.

“We’re excited that funding is finally becoming available to rejuvenate and improve America’s bridges. The American steel fabrication industry and our domestic steel mills are ready and able to meet our nation’s infrastructure needs,” stated Charles J. Carter, SE, PE, PhD, president of the American Institute of Steel Construction and executive director of the National Steel Bridge Alliance.

Carter will be discussing the current state of the fabrication industry during a special session at this year’s NASCC: The Steel Conference in Denver from March 23-25.

“Last summer, as a result of the ongoing pandemic, the structural steel industry experienced longer than normal lead times and extended delivery schedules, just like almost every construction material,” Carter explained. “Fortunately, the steel industry has almost fully recovered. And whether it’s raw steel or fabricated product, our members have the personnel, capacity, experience, and skill to successfully complete all of the anticipated projects.”

Steel Industry Has Capacity To Complete Anticipated Projects

Thanks to Buy America provisions, steel plate and structural steel used in bridge construction are widely available from domestic steel mills, so not subject to the current port delays most supply chains are currently experiencing.

Nucor Corporation is adding a blast and prime line, with an annual capacity of approximately 120,000 tons, in Brandenburg, Kentucky (note – above picture is of the Nucor Steel Gallatin Plant).

Further, to accommodate the expected increased demand from the recently passed infrastructure bill, the steel industry is rapidly adding capacity, such as the $1.7 billion plate mill now under construction in Kentucky and additional upgrades being made by multiple steel producers.

According to steel mill representatives, the industry has the capacity to support both the current and expected future demand for steel. And on the fabrication side, many companies have upgraded their equipment, improved their automation, and increased their staffing in anticipation of increased bridge projects due to the new infrastructure bill.

Raw Materials Only Fraction of Bridge Cost

While availability and lead times were the hot topic last fall, today’s discussions focus more on the escalated pricing for all raw materials. John O’Quinn, president of High Steel Structures and chair of NSBA’s Market Development Committee, is quick to point out that raw material pricing represents only a fraction of the total cost of a bridge.

Raw material pricing represents only a fraction of the total cost of a bridge.

“You can not simply look at the change in plate pricing to fully gauge the cost of a bridge,” he explained. “We manage highly impactful variables including labor, materials, coating systems, erection, and even the timing of the project to best deliver bridges at a cost and schedule that meets each owner and project’s needs.”

Owners and designers with specific concerns about pricing and availability should contact either their regional NSBA representative or one of AISC’s more than 350 certified steel bridge fabricators.