Short Span Steel Bridges Capabilities and Advantages of Steel Buried Bridges
In this video lecture, Joel Hahm (Contech Engineered Solutions LLC) and Michael McGough (National Corrugated Steel Pipe Association) provide an overview of buried steel bridges including:
- Introduction to Flexible Buried Steel Bridges
- Applications and Advantages
- Case Studies and Examples
- National Corrugated Steel Pipe Association Tools and Resources
This video is part of a 7-part webinar series on solutions for cost-effective steel bridges.
If you are looking for a buried steel bridge supplier, please see Find-a-Supplier for a complete company directory.
What are buried steel bridges?
Buried steel bridges provide an economical choices for bridge replacement or bridge rehabilitation.
They essentially are a corrugated steel pipe or structural plate pipe systems that is “buried” with backfill to carry loads through soil-structure interaction. This means the bridge structure itself and the backfill soils surrounding the structure interact with each other to support the loads. In effect, the backfill material is part of the bridge.
Because of this interaction, the bridge structure is typically lighter, and there can be significant savings in structure costs.
There are also many cases where buried bridges can carry heavier loads than traditional bridges because of the benefits of spreading vehicle loads through the fill. Buried bridges do not require abutments; and unless foundation soil conditions are poor, do not typically
require deep foundations.An additional benefit with buried bridges is that they can be tailored to site conditions and geometric requirements. The design includes inputs for site soils and backfill, meaning that locally available materials can often be used in construction and the structure can be tailored to fit the needs of the site and the owner’s requirements.
Buried Bridge
Buried Steel Bridge Protects Wildlife and Motorists in New Mexico DOT Project
To improve safety and preserve wildlife corridors, the New Mexico DOT installed two steel structural plate buried bridges beneath I-25 at Raton Pass. Supplied by SSSBA member Contech, the crossings offer a durable, low-maintenance solution for both transportation and conservation.
Buried Bridge
Buried Steel Bridge Preserves Streambed While Supporting Heavy Loads
A new galvanized buried steel bridge in Riverside, Iowa, supplied by SSSBA member Lane Enterprises, replaced a weight-restricted structure and restored direct access for local farmers. Its open-bottom steel design preserves the natural streambed, enhances durability, and provides a cost-effective solution for rural infrastructure.
Case Study
Steel in Action: On-Demand Steel Bridge Video Series
Watch this four-part, on-demand video series featuring expert-led case studies on cost-effective, resilient short span bridge projects—now available with downloadable presentation materials.