Short Span Steel Bridges 
Iowa County Uses Galvanized Steel for ‘Long Lasting’ Bridge Project
Hot-dip galvanizing (HDG) is the process of dipping fabricated steel into a bath (kettle) of molten zinc to produce an abrasion- and corrosion-resistant coating.
In 2013, Engineer Brian Keierleber constructed a hot-dip galvanized bridge in Buchanan County, Iowa. Keierleber used the SSSBA’s online bridge design tool eSPAN140 to develop a custom solution for the Jesup South Bridge project.
It was the first hot-dip galvanized bridge for Keierleber and his county, but it wouldn’t be his last.
At the time, Keierleber said: “Without a doubt, Buchanan County will certainly build more galvanized steel bridges. It all goes back to economics. It will dictate everything we do. It goes back to cost comparisons and being worried about cost savings in the long run instead of the short term.”
The Jesup South Bridge in Buchanan County, Iowa, featured the use of hot-dip galvanized steel.
Buffalo Creek Bridge
Keierleber stayed true to his word, and in fall 2018 he began the construction of his second galvanized steel bridge near Independence, Iowa. The 200-foot Buffalo Creek Bridge (other than the deck) was constructed entirely of galvanized steel, including h-piles, girders (superstructure), rebar, guardrails and miscellaneous steel elements.
In the video below, the American Galvanizers Association talked with Keierleber and Gary Wisch, Chief Engineer at DeLongs, Inc., about the Buffalo Creek Bridge project in Buchanan County.
Learn more about hot-dip galvanizing in this 5-part video series provided by the American Galvanizers Association.
What is eSPAN140?
eSPAN140 is an innovative, interactive web-based preliminary design tool to assist bridge professionals in the optimal, most cost-effective design of short span steel bridges (those with spans up to 140 feet). It provides bridge professionals with a single resource to find optimized steel solutions for their projects—a “one-stop shop” for steel fabrication and erection details.
To begin to use eSPAN140, simply go to www.eSPAN140.com and create a free account. Then input information about your specific project, including span length, number of striped traffic lanes, skew angle and design speed, among other requirements. eSPAN140 then provides a customized “Steel Bridge Solutions Book” in PDF file format based on the specific input provided.
The Solutions Book includes:
– Standard designs for rolled beam, plate girder, buried bridge, and press brake tub girders.– Contact information to design and build your bridge, as well as to provide pricing information.
-Access to complimentary design support.
Durability & Coatings
Steel Bridge Durability: Weathering Steel and Corrosion Protection Resources
The SSSBA, with assistance from the National Steel Bridge Alliance (NSBA), has compiled technical resources on weathering steel performance and corrosion protection systems for steel bridges. These resources provide research findings, design guidance, and best practices to help bridge owners and engineers make informed decisions that support long-term bridge durability.
News
AISI Corrosion Advisory Group to Meet October 27 in Ohio
The AISI Corrosion Advisory Group (CAG) will meet October 27 at the Sherwin-Williams Research & Development Center in Ohio. Discussions will focus on corrosion research, coatings, steel durability and related industry needs.
Events
Free Webinar: Galvanize It! Core Webinar (Aug. 26)
SSSBA member American Galvanizers Association’s Core Galvanize It! webinar provides an introduction to hot-dip galvanizing, covering the galvanizing process, zinc coatings, and key benefits such as corrosion resistance, durability, longevity, sustainability and life-cycle cost. The seminar is AIA and RCEP accredited for 1.0 LU/PDH.