Case Studies
Case Studies on Recent Short Span Steel Bridge Projects
Thousands of short span steel bridges have been constructed over the past several decades. This section provides case studies for projects in the United States and Canada, including:
- Buried Steel Bridges
- Truss Bridges
- Press and Folded Plate Bridges
- Rolled Beam and Plate Girder Bridges
- Pedestrian Bridges
- Prefabricated Bridges
Whiteside County (IL) Uses FHWA Funds for Accelerated Steel Bridge Project
Russ Renner, a Whiteside County Engineer, saved up to 12 weeks of lane closures by installing a steel bridge for the crossing.
Modular Steel Bridge Reduces Traffic Delays During New Jersey Highway Construction
A modular steel bridge from Acrow prevents travel disruptions by providing detours for locals and tourists in northern New Jersey.
Buried Steel Bridge Connects Community College Campus
The National Corrugated Steel Pipe Association (NCSPA) spotlights a project that used corrugated structural steel to connect a North Carolina college campus.
Corrugated Steel Pipe Safeguards Rail System from Excessive Storm Water
The National Corrugated Steel Pipe Association (NCSPA) spotlights a project that used corrugated steel pipe to provide a storm water solution in only 8 hours.
Acrow Bridge Carries Detour Traffic During Highway Construction in Oklahoma
A modular steel bridge from Acrow prevents travel disruptions by providing detour for locals and tourists in Okfuskee County, Oklahoma.
Short Span Steel Bridge Projects Win Prize Bridge Awards
Two short span steel bridges that featured multiple SSSBA members were recently honored with bridge awards by NSBA.
NCSPA Project Spotlight: Corrugated Steel Used to Rehabilitate Railroad Bridge Piers
The NCSPA spotlights a project that used galvanized corrugated steel forms to rehabilitate a railroad bridge.
Modular Steel Bridges Reconnect Routes After Flooding in California
Two Acrow modular steel bridges were installed to reconnect flood-damaged routes in San Luis Obispo County in California’s Central Coast region.
On-Demand Steel Bridge Video Series: Learning By Example
A distinguished panel of 8 industry experts to present case studies that offer innovative and cost-effective examples of steel bridge replacement projects.
Modular Bridge Reconnects Key Route After Culvert Collapse in Colorado
After rushing waters caused the collapse a culvert, Acrow installed a steel modular bridge to reopen traffic in only 2 weeks.
Steel Bridge Provides TDOT With Accelerated Solution, Restores School Bus Route
A steel press-brake-formed tub girder bridge offered a quick solution to restore a school bus route in Tennessee.
Barron County Installs Wisconsin’s First Steel Press-Brake Formed Tub Girder Bridge
Mark Servi, Barron County Highway Department, provided leadership for the construction of Wisconsin’s first press-brake tub girder steel bridge.
Iowa County Uses Galvanized Steel for ‘Long Lasting’ Bridge Project
Watch an interview with county engineer Brian Keierleber regarding the Buffalo Creek Bridge project in Buchanan County, Iowa.
Union Pacific Bridge Replacement Wins NCSPA Project of the Year Award
A timber trestle Union Pacific Bridge was rehabilitated using polymer-coated structural plate pipe without disrupting rail operations.
Temporary Steel Bridge Provides Safe Detour During Highway Construction in Texas
Acrow supplied a modular steel bridge as a cost-effective alternative for a phased construction project in Nacogdoches County, Texas.
Connecticut DOT Buried Steel Bridge Wins NCSPA Project of the Year Award
The Yellow Mill Bridge project had specific needs that had to be met – a custom steel buried bridge provided by Contech Engineered Solutions met all of them.
Acrow’s Modular Steel Truss System Supports Rehabilitation of Historic Covered Bridge
Acrow designed and supplied a freestanding modular steel truss system to provide support for the restoration of a historic covered bridge in Québec.
Suspended Steel Truss Bridge Connects Continents, Generations
U.S. Bridge designed and erected a steel truss bridge, over a historic 190-year old existing structure, to allow traffic to use a key connector in Ohio.
County-Built Steel Plate Arch Bridge Turns 82
Built in 1941 by the Union County (Iowa) county crew, a 30 foot structural steel plate arch bridge is still performing well after 82 years.
Whiteside County (IL) Selects Steel Bridge Solution for Short Lead Time
Russ Renner, Whiteside County Engineer, decided on a steel solution for an upcoming 105′ long bridge replacement project.
Historic Steel Truss Bridge Rehabilitated, Placed Back In Service
Quality Bridge & Fab, Inc. fabricated the steel to rehabilitate a historic 146 year old bowstring truss bridge in Pennsylvania.
Acrow Bridge Permits Uninterrupted Traffic Flow During Highway Construction in Colorado
A modular steel bridge from Acrow minimizes travel disruptions for locals and tourists in Delta County, Colorado.
Steel Truss Bridge Preserves Crossing for Miami County
U.S. Bridge answered the call with a steel truss bridge when Miami County, Ohio required a replacement structure that would limit the impact to the surrounding property.
Peoria County Looks to Steel for Innovative Bridge Replacement Project
Jeff Gilles, Peoria County Assistant Engineer, discusses the new Evans Mill Road Bridge featuring the use of steel press-brake tub girders.
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.
Mason County (WA) Installs Buried Steel Bridge With Local Crews, Saves Money
Mason County (WA) provided cost savings to their residents by installing a Contech 30′ 8″ span x 9′ 8″ rise deep corrugated steel box culvert bridge with their local road crew.
Steel Culvert Saves Minnesota County Time and $15,000 Over Concrete Options
Olmsted County needed a cost-effective solution to quickly replace a concrete structure before it collapsed – steel saved $15,000 and took less than 2 days to install.
Acrow’s Modular Steel Bridges Reconnect Communities Impacted by Extreme Weather
Acrow supplied a permanent and temporary bridge to quickly reconnect communities in Northern Italy impacted by an extreme weather event.
Buried Steel Bridge Saves $500,000 and Three Months Versus Concrete Option
Contech wins the NCSPA Project of the Year award for the I-44 EB & WB buried steel bridge in Missouri.
Norfolk Southern Bridge Wins NCSPA Project of the Year Award
The award winning Norfolk Southern Bridge over Stoney Creek is a classic example of how structural integrity to an existing bridge can be restored without disrupting rail operations.
Five Game-Changing County Steel Bridge Projects
These 5 county projects are changing the way bridges are designed and constructed.
Buried Steel Bridge: High Speed Railway Ecological Overpass
This award winning project is the first ever corrugated steel plate ecological overpass constructed on a high speed railway in the world!
Michigan Governor Announces First Steel Bridge in Bundling Project Open to Traffic
Due to their flexibility and low-cost, press-brake tub girders were selected by the Michigan DOT for 19-bridge bundling project.
Buried Steel Bridge Designed for 100-Year Service Life
The deep corrugated structural plate bridge enables safe vehicle traffic as well as free water flow of the Bauda River in Poland.
Michigan DOT Selects Steel for 19-Bridge Bundling Project
Due to their flexibility and low-cost, Valmont’s press-brake tub girders are selected for 19-bridge bundling project. Follow the project’s progress in real-time.
County Engineer Presents Benefits of Press-Brake Tub Girders at Illinois Conference
Champaign County completed the installation of the first prefabricated steel press-brake tub girder bridge in the state of Illinois.
Steel Truss Bridge Reunites Community After Woolsey Fire Decimates Region
After the Woolsey fire burned down the Mulholland Highway bridge, U.S. Bridge stepped in to reunite the community with a new steel truss bridge.
Buried Steel Bridge Provides Solution for Deteriorated Concrete Arch
The Kansas Department of Transportation elected to replace an existing concrete arch in place using a deep corrugated structural plate buried bridge from Big R Bridge.
Press-Brake Tub Girder Technology Expands to Multi-Span Applications
Valmont Structures installed a 104’ multi-span bridge using PBTG technology in a single morning.
Washington Tribe Installs Fast Cast Bridge® in One Day
The Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation installs a Fast Cast Bridge® to resolve a critical safety concern and avoid a long-term road closure.
U.S. Bridge Provides Signature Truss Bridge for Luxury Development
U.S. Bridge recently completed the construction of a weathering steel truss bridge for the Marble Cliff development in Columbus, Ohio.
Acrow Bridge Restores Route for Residents Impacted by Hurricane
Acrow supplied a modular steel bridge to provide passage between the communities impacted by Hurricane Ida.
Buried Steel Bridge Provides Crossing for Reindeer
In an effort to safely help the reindeer cross through a busy highway, officials in Norway decided it was time to install a wildlife crossing.
Illinois Installs State’s First Steel Press-Brake Tub Girder Bridge
Champaign County completed the installation of the first prefabricated steel press-brake tub girder bridge in the state of Illinois.
Buried Steel Bridge Selected Over Concrete to Reduce Environmental Impact
A buried steel bridge was constructed as an alternative to a concrete structure to reduce disruptions to the surrounding environment and allow quick installation.
County Saves $30,000 Using a Prefabricated Steel Bridge Instead of Concrete
Whitman County, Washington installed a prefabricated steel bridge using a local county crew and saved $30,000 over a concrete structure.
Steel Plate Arch Buried Bridge Provides Natural Pathway for Fish to Spawn
The Falcon Ridge 11.5′ fish passage structure provide easy fish passage for the local spawning trout and steel head.
PennDOT Uses Corrosion-Resistant Steel for Flex Beam Pilot Bridge Project
The innovative design extends the service life of a new bridge by using A709-50CR steel.
Philadelphia Reconstruction Project Wins NSBA Steel Bridge Award
The Vine Street Expressway (I-676) Bridge reconstruction project wins the National Steel Bridge Alliance 2020 Short Span Prize Bridge Award.
Buchanan County Provides Virtual Tour of Iowa Steel Bridges
In this 20 minute video, county engineer Brian Keierleber provides an in-depth overview of 5 steel bridges built in Buchanan County, Iowa.
Caltrans Buried Steel Bridge Project Includes ‘Critter Crossing’ for Wildlife
The award winning Caltrans Lake 29 Expressway buried steel bridge project features over 150 tons of steel products.
James Madison University Land Bridge Wins NCSPA Project of the Year Award
The award winning Land Bridge was constructed using Contech’s galvanized, deep-corrugation structural plate arch system.
Johnson Creek Buried Bridge Wins NCSPA Project of the Year Award
The Johnson Creek project involved removing a fish barrier and replacing it with a fish-friendly, bottomless arch.
Temporary Steel Bridge Reused to Help Remote Haitian Community
The Fore River Temporary Bridge (Massachusetts) repurposed to becomes the New Riviere Cochon Gras Bridge (Haiti).
Whitman County Saves 32 Percent with Steel Superstructure
By choosing a steel beam girder bridge, the county reduced the overall project costs and decreased the time for construction.
Acrow Helps Restore Transportation Lifelines in Mozambique
Acrow provides 26 modular steel bridges to Mozambique to restore vital transportation routes damaged by cyclones in 2019.
Buried Steel Bridge Wins Award
Contech buried steel bridge wins the ASCE Parks & Rec Project of the Year for project in City of Laguna Niguel, California.
Contractor Saves $15,000 With Steel Structural Plate Arch
The 9’-0” x 3’-10½” single- radius steel structural plate arch was assembled by the contractor and installed in only two days.
Ohio County Accelerates Cost-Effective Bridge Replacements With Steel
County saves over $10,000 using galvanized steel beams over concrete box beams.
Steel Bridge Improves Habitat Conditions for Fish and Wildlife
A 75-foot single span rolled beam bridge in Oregon improves habitat conditions for fish and wildlife by restoring natural stream hydrology.
Iowa County Saves Costs by Choosing Buried Steel Bridge for Replacement Project
Buried steel bridge is constructed with local crews in Buchanan County Iowa.
Weathering Steel Pedestrian Bridge Preserves Beauty of Park Area
A 32-foot weathering steel pedestrian bridge was constructed to preserve the beauty of an idyllic setting while being cost-effective.
Amish Sawmill Bridge: An Innovative Steel Solution for Short Span Bridge Design
Buchanan County Iowa receives IBRC grant to constuct a press brake tub girder bridge.
Plate Girder Short Span Steel Bridge is Built Using Design From eSPAN140
The High Point Lane bridge in Missouri was built utilizing preliminary designs generated from eSPAN140.
Texas Public Works Uses Prefabricated Bridge for Replacement Project
Contractor uses press brake tub girder for its ease of construction and short lead time (less than 8 weeks).
Saving Time in Michigan with Press-Brake-Formed Steel Tub Girders
St. Clair County Michigan Uses Press Brake Tub Girders for ABC Project.
Short Span Shake-Up
Missouri short span bridge study finds steel saved 25% over concrete.
Cedar Creek Fish Passage Restoration Del Norte County, California
Video of a modular bridge installation that took place for the replacement of a culvert in a California fish passage.
Ohio County Finds Creative, Sustainable Steel Solutions for Bridge Replacement
Muskingum County saved $51,000 by using repurposed beams.
Innovative Bridge Design Saves Months in Construction Schedule
Muskingum County (Ohio) uses press brake tub girder bridge for accelerated bridge project.
Missouri DOT Selects Steel for 45 Foot Span Bridge in Scott County
Galvanized rolled steel beam beat out concrete by 2.5 percent in this Missouri DOT project.
Midland County Bundles Innovative Steel Bridge System and Saves Big
The new Orr Road Bridge in Midland County, Michigan, is a press brake fabricated steel bridge.
Ohio Bridge Raises the Bar for Future Short Span Construction
The Cannelville Road Bridge in Ohio was completed ahead of schedule, and is expected to have a service life of more than 100 years.