Short Span Steel Bridges 
Free Customized Workshops for Counties, DOTs, and Design Firms
Short span bridges provide vital links in the nation’s infrastructure network. Yet, nearly a quarter of these bridges are classified as structurally deficient or functionally obsolete.
According to ASCE, more than 30% of existing bridges have exceeded their 50-year design life. This situation presents a significant challenge for cash-strapped state and local governments.
The SSSBA has developed technological and design innovations for bridges under 140 feet that save significant time and costs for county and state bridge officials.
Over the past decade, over 23,000 bridge owners and designers have learned about the cost and time advantages of short span steel bridges in SSSBA workshops and conferences throughout North America.
And now, the SSSBA is offering complimentary customized educational guest speakers/webinars and workshops (on-site or virtual) specifically for county engineers, state DOTs, and design firms. The webinars/workshops are taught by industry experts with decades of experience in the cost-effective design and construction of short span bridges.
The workshops can be set up as:
- 1-2 hour webinar on a specific topic (can be used as a “guest speaker” for your event).
- 3-4 hour (half-day) workshop to provide practical information on the safe and cost-effective design, detail, fabrication and installation of short span steel bridges.
- 6 hour (full-day) session to provide an in-depth overview of short span steel bridges.
Suggested topics to select from include:
- Practical and Cost-Effective Steel Bridge Design
- Free Design Tools (eSPAN140 and SIMON)
- Pre-engineered Bridge Solutions
- Coating Solutions (galvanized, painted, and weathering steel)
- Innovative/Accelerated Bridge Construction Options
- Case Studies (from local counties)
- Buried Soil Steel Bridge Structure Alternatives
- Life-Cycle Analysis
For more information or to customize a workshop for your organization, please contact:
- Dan Snyder (Director of the SSSBA) at dsnyder@steel.org or 301-367-6179.
- Michael Barker (University of Wyoming & SSSBA Director of Education) at barker@uwyo.edu
Does the SSSBA offer educational opportunities?
Yes! The SSSBA offers educational opportunities to students and professionals:
Professionals: The SSSBA provides complimentary half-day or full-day workshops on short span steel bridge design to states, counties, and design firms. Topics covered include practical and cost-effective steel bridge design and fabrication with eSPAN140, press-brake-formed steel tub girders, steel buried bridge design, galvanized coating solutions, and economical design with case studies, and more. The workshops can take place virtually or in-person, compliments of the steel industry. Learn more.
Students: The University of Wyoming and the Short Span Steel Bridge Alliance created a free 6-part live-lecture educational series to cover the many aspects of designing, fabricating, and constructing steel bridges. All students who successfully complete the education series will receive a Certificate of Completion from the University of Wyoming. Learn more.
Speakers: The SSSBA provides expert speakers to present topics of interest on the cost-effective design and construction of short span steel bridges. If you need a speaker for your next event, contact the SSSBA.
Events
Free Steel Bridge Plate Girder Design Course: 6-Part Live Webinar Series (Starts Feb. 24)
Take your bridge design skills to the next level in this free six-part webinar series led by Dr. Michael Barker, University of Wyoming. Learn step-by-step how to design a composite plate girder bridge and earn a certificate of completion in this course from the SSSBA.
Events
Free 4-Part Quarterly Webinar Series: Steel Bridge Playbook (Next Webinar May 7)
This free, four-part quarterly webinar series delivers expert insights on steel bridge design, preservation, and innovation. Explore essential design resources, corrosion protection through galvanizing, accelerated construction methods, and real-world case studies to gain practical guidance for every steel bridge project. Sponsored by SSSBA and AGA.
Events
SSSBA to Present on Accelerated Steel Bridge Design at Mid Atlantic Quality Assurance Workshop (Feb. 9-11)
The SSSBA will participate in the 2026 Mid-Atlantic Quality Assurance Workshop in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Don’t miss Dr. Michael Barker’s presentation on Feb. 10, 3:00–3:40 p.m. ET, highlighting practical approaches for cost-efficient, accelerated short span steel bridges.
Events
New Jersey Short Span Steel Bridge Workshop (Feb. 12 – Trenton, NJ)
Sponsored by the SSSBA, the New Jersey workshop offers practical, up-to-date guidance on cost-effective, durable steel bridge solutions to help local agencies address infrastructure needs and make the most of limited resources.
Events
Steel Bridge Lecture: Steel Solutions for Local Communities (Ft. Collins, CO – Feb. 19)
Join the SSSBA and Structural Engineers Association of Colorado (SEAC) on February 19 in Fort Collins, Colorado, for “Building Bridges: Steel Solutions for Local Communities” presented by Dr. Michael Barker. Learn how short span steel bridges cut costs, speed construction, and earn 1.0 PDH.
Events
NSBA and Purdue Offer Free Steel Bridge Seminar Series (Starts Feb. 4)
Hosted by Purdue University and sponsored by the National Steel Bridge Alliance, this four-part webinar series features leading experts presenting state-of-practice topics across steel bridge fabrication, design, evaluation and inspection.