Short Span Steel Bridges 
What is a Buried Steel Bridge?
Joel Hahm, P.E., is Senior Engineer and Buried Bridge Specialist with Contech Engineered Solutions LLC. He is responsible for design, estimation, feasibility assessment, and development of buried bridge projects nationwide.
In this video, Hahm explains how a buried bridge system is different from an above-ground “traditional girder” bridge.
Additional Buried Steel Bridge Resources:
- What You Should Know About Buried Bridges
- Buried Steel Bridge Wins Award
- Hidden in Plain Sight–the Design, Cost and Maintenance Advantages of Steel Buried Bridges
Contact Information:
Joel Hahm, PE
Contech Engineered Solutions LLC
Senior Engineer
Office: 970.347.2208
Mobile: 970.590.7907
joel.hahm@conteches.com
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.
Events
Free Webinar: Designing Stream Crossings to Improve Fish Passage and Flood Resiliency (April 23)
Join SSSBA member Contech Engineered Solutions for a webinar on Aquatic Organism Passage (AOP) and stream simulation design. Learn how properly sized bridges and culverts improve fish passage, strengthen flood resilience, and support long-term infrastructure performance.
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.
Buried Bridge
Buried Steel Bridge Protects Wildlife and Motorists in New Mexico DOT Project
The New Mexico DOT buried steel bridge project, featuring SSSBA member Contech’s custom structural plate design, was honored as the NCSPA Project of the Year for its innovative wildlife crossing solution on I-25 at Raton Pass.
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.
News
NCSPA Announces 2025 Project of the Year Winners
The National Corrugated Steel Pipe Association announced the 2025 project of the year winners, including members of the Short Span Steel Bridge Alliance.
Buried Bridge
Corrugated Steel Animal Overpass Reduces Wildlife-Vehicle Collisions
The corrugated steel Stoney Nakoda Exshaw Wildlife Arch in Western Canada showcases the balance of engineering and environmental stewardship, setting a new standard for wildlife-friendly infrastructure.