Short Span Steel Bridges Steel Bridge Basics
Introduction to Short Span Steel Bridges
Several options are available depending on the length of the bridge, including corrugated pipe, corrugated structural plate, wide flange shape/rolled beams, plate girder, and truss.
Short span bridges provide vital links in the nation’s infrastructure network. Yet, on average, there are 188 million trips across a structurally deficient bridge each day – over 56,000 bridges are structurally deficient. .
Steel provides an excellent solution for short span bridges (bridges under 140 feet) because it’s durable, provides speed of design and construction, requires minimal maintenance over the life span of the structure, and is cost-effective and sustainable, among other benefits.
Several options are available depending on the length of the bridge, including buried plate structures, wide flange shape/rolled beams, plate girder, and trusses.
- There are several types of short span steel bridge options available, including prefabricated, buried and pedestrian.
- Component choices for these bridges include substructures, superstructures, decks, systems, secondary elements and transporters.
- Coatings include galvanized, weathering steel, metalizing and paint.
- Steel is a sustainable choice.
- Steel is a cost-effective material, with both short-term and long-term savings.
Steel Bridge Basics
AASHTO Offers Guardrail Courses On Basics, Installation and Maintenance
AASHTO recently submitted its surface transportation reauthorization recommendations to the U.S. Department of Transportation in response to the agency’s Request for Information.
Video
Video: United for Infrastructure Webinar – Steel Bridges and Resilience
During Infrastructure Week, Dr. Michael Barker and Jeff Cunningham highlighted the benefits of galvanized steel in resilient bridge design and construction. An on-demand video of the presentation is now available.
Education
Video: Steel Bridges for Local Communities
Watch the video and download the presentation from the Webinar, “Steel Bridges for Local Communities,” sponsored by the Minnesota Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP).
Design
NSBA Releases Steel Bridge Engineering PowerPoint Modules
The National Steel Bridge Alliance (NSBA) offers a new set of 14 PowerPoint modules covering university-level fundamentals of steel bridge engineering.
Design
AASHTO/NSBA Steel Bridge Collaboration Releases Guidelines for Field Repairs and Retrofits
The AASHTO/NSBA Steel Bridge Collaboration releases guidelines focused on repair procedures and retrofit for damaged steel bridges.
Design
West Virginia DOT Publishes Standard Bridge Plans for Short Span Bridges
The SSSBA Bridge Technology Center worked with the West Virginia Department of Transportation to developed standard bridges plans for composite rolled beam and plate girders.
Design
SSSBA Provides Bridge Owners With Complimentary Design Details
The complimentary service allows for the production of standard rolled beam and plate girder designs for highway bridge applications.
News
12-Part Video Series: Designing Cost-Effective and Resilient Bridges
Free 12-part video series covers topics essential to the design and installation of steel bridges.
Education
Building a Sustainable Infrastructure with Steel Bridges
Presentations from a five-part webinar series covering topics essential to the design and installation of steel bridges are now available on-demand.
Education
Modern Corrosion Protection Systems
Presentations from a five-part webinar series covering topics essential to the design and installation of steel bridges are now available on-demand.
Education
Steel Bridge Case Studies
Presentations from a five-part webinar series covering topics essential to the design and installation of steel bridges are now available on-demand.
Design
Steel Bridge Design Tools Demonstration
Presentations from a five-part webinar series covering topics essential to the design and installation of steel bridges are now available on-demand.
Economics
Steel Bridge Economics
Presentations from a five-part webinar series covering topics essential to the design and installation of steel bridges are now available on-demand.
Buried Bridge
Buried Steel Bridges: CSPI 2-Part Video Series
The Corrugated Steel Pipe Institute and the Ontario Good Roads Association present a two-part video series on the use of buried steel bridges.
Buried Bridge
What is a Buried Steel Bridge?
Joel Hahm, Contech Engineered Solutions, provides information on buried steel bridges.
Education
Steel Bridge Essentials: 6-Part Video Series
A six-part webinar series covering topics essential to the design and installation of steel bridges is now available on-demand.
Video
12-Part Topic-Based Technical Bridge Video Series
The series reviews basic concepts and ideas pertinent to engineers new to bridge design and those looking for a refresher in fundamental concepts.
Video
Video: Live Load Distribution (Part Two)
This video provides an overview live load distribution factors for parameters affecting LLDFs AASHTO Provisions, and some additional topics.
Professional
Temporary Steel Bridge Video Series
Collection of 4-videos recorded from a webinar series hosted by the SSSBA on temporary steel bridges.
Buried Bridge
What You Should Know About Buried Bridges
Joel Hahm, Contech Engineered Solutions, provides an expert Q&A on buried bridges.
Video
Video: Live Load Distribution (Part One)
This video provides an overview of vehicular live loads, structural analysis and live load distribution for bridge design.
Sustainability
What is a Sustainable Bridge?
Steel bridges can improve our nation’s infrastructure with sustainable solutions that will last well into the next century.
Design
Video: Understanding Construction Loads
This video provides a general understanding of construction loads for short span steel bridges.
Video
Video: Options for Short Span Steel Bridge Solutions
This video provides a summary of economical short span steel bridge solutions to consider for various lengths of crossings.
Video
Video: 5 Frequently Asked Steel Bridge Questions
This video discusses the most frequently asked questions about short span steel bridges.
Design
Video: Best Practices During Construction
This video provides an overview of the best practices during construction for short span steel bridges.
Steel Bridge Basics
14 Reasons to Use Structural Steel For Bridges
Here are 14 reasons why steel provides an economical and sustainable choice for the repair or replacement of bridges.
Truss
Advantages of Steel Truss Bridge Construction
5 advantages of constructing steel truss bridges for both short and long span crossings.
Design
Video: Suggested Fabrication Details, Part 2
This video provides an overview of simple and economical practices specific to girder fabrication.
Design
Video: Suggested Fabrication Details, Part 1
This video provides an overview of simple and economical fabrication for framing system layouts.
Design
Video: Understanding Fatigue
This video provides a basic overview of fatigue theory and relevant specifications related to short-span steel bridges.
Design
Video: Basics of Limit States and LRFD Bridge Design
This video provides an introduction to the basics of limit state design and how engineers design and detail bridges.
Steel Bridge Basics
Steel Bridge Construction: Myths & Realities
Report dispels the “myths” surrounding the use of steel in bridge construction.
Buried Bridge
Hidden in Plain Sight–the Design, Cost and Maintenance Advantages of Steel Buried Bridges
Steel buried bridges are durable and resilient, with the ability to support very heavy loads.