Short Span Steel Bridges 
Buried Steel Bridge Provides Crossing for Reindeer
Article provided by the National Corrugated Steel Pipe Association (NCSPA)
NCSPA Project Spotlight: Sefrivatn Reindeer crossing – Norway
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.
Sefrivatnet is a lake that lies in the municipality of Grane in Nordland county, Norway.
The construction of the animal crossing required an angle or bend in the longitudinal direction of the crossing so that it could fit in the space previously carved out of the mountain for the new line of the E6 main road.
The new crossing was placed on top of concrete foundations and fixed through M22 stainless steel precast anchor bolts. In an effort to minimize the use of concrete, the new crossing would have a steel collar which would also reduce the total construction time (the road was schedule to open before Christmas 2020).
European route E6 and the Nordland Line both run along the eastern edge of the lake.
The new structure was calculated by the Swedish Design Method and designed and executed by partner and designer Sweco Norge AS. The new animal crossing weighs in at approximately 200T of steel and has various steel thicknesses that handles the dead load of up to 24.3′ height of cover (which would include the snowmobiles and service road loads).
The new animal crossing weighs in at approximately 200T of steel and has various steel thicknesses that handles the dead load of up to 24.3′ height of cover.
This new crossing was assembled in October 2020 and took approximately 3 weeks. All of the construction was performed by the ViaCon Norway crew with the crane operation provided by Polarkran AS.
This is Norway’s first 500x237mm (UltraCor) corrugation, which opens up to larger spans and loads. The distance from the center road through the construction, and up to the top level at the surface varies from 32-49′.
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 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.
Buried Bridge
NCSPA Releases Report to Simplify the Seismic Design for Buried Structures
The National Corrugated Steel Pipe Association (NCSPA) released a groundbreaking report that simplifies the seismic design for buried structures including culverts, tunnels and buried steel bridges.