Steel Bridge Basics

Introduction to Short Span Steel Bridges

Steel Bridge Lenghts Chart

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 Resources

Guidelines for Repair and Retrofits

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.

West Virginia Bridge Standards Steel

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 Standards

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.

Building a Sustainable Infrastructure with Steel Bridges

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.

Modern Corrosion Protection Systems - SSSBA Website

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.

Steel Bridge Case Studies - SSSBA Website(1)

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.

Steel Bridge Design Tools - SSSBA Website

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.

Steel Bridge 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.

New Brunswick Underpass Buried Steel 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 steel bridge

What is a Buried Steel Bridge?

Joel Hahm, Contech Engineered Solutions, provides information on buried steel bridges.

2021 Summer Webinar Series

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.

12-Part Technical Video Bridge Series

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.

Live Load Distribution Factors

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.

Temporary Steel Bridge

Temporary Steel Bridge Video Series

Collection of 4-videos recorded from a webinar series hosted by the SSSBA on temporary steel bridges.

Contech - Buried Bridge - California

What You Should Know About Buried Bridges

Joel Hahm, Contech Engineered Solutions, provides an expert Q&A on buried bridges.

Live Load Distribution One

Video: Live Load Distribution (Part One)

This video provides an overview of vehicular live loads, structural analysis and live load distribution for bridge design.

Sustainable Steel Bridge

What is a Sustainable Bridge?

Steel bridges can improve our nation’s infrastructure with sustainable solutions that will last well into the next century.

Understanding Construction Loads

Video: Understanding Construction Loads

This video provides a general understanding of construction loads for short span steel bridges.

Options for Short-Span Steel Bridge Solutions

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.

steel bridge FAQ

Video: 5 Frequently Asked Steel Bridge Questions

This video discusses the most frequently asked questions about short span steel bridges.

Best Practices for Construction

Video: Best Practices During Construction

This video provides an overview of the best practices during construction for short span steel bridges.

14 Reasons to Use Steel Bridges

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 Steel Bridge

Advantages of Steel Truss Bridge Construction

5 advantages of constructing steel truss bridges for both short and long span crossings.

Steel Bridge Fabrication

Video: Suggested Fabrication Details, Part 2

This video provides an overview of simple and economical practices specific to girder fabrication.

Steel Bridge Fabrication

Video: Suggested Fabrication Details, Part 1

This video provides an overview of simple and economical fabrication for framing system layouts.

Understanding Fatigue of Steel Bridges

Video: Understanding Fatigue

This video provides a basic overview of fatigue theory and relevant specifications related to short-span steel bridges.

Basics of Limited States

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.

Myths and Realities of Steel Bridges

Steel Bridge Construction: Myths & Realities

Report dispels the “myths” surrounding the use of steel in bridge construction.

Steel 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.