SSSBA Focuses on Innovation and Growth at Semiannual Meeting in Charlotte

Image: Pete Weber, Dane Construction, presented information on a general contractor’s perspective during the SSSBA Semiannual meeting.

On September 23-24, the Short Span Steel Bridge Alliance (SSSBA) held its semiannual meeting in Charlotte, NC.

Nearly 50 members of the SSSBA attended the 2-day meeting, including county engineers and representatives from the National Association of County Engineers.

Throughout the week, steel bridge stakeholders from around the country came together to focus on key areas related to short span steel bridges including innovation, standardization, education and market development.

Stakeholders from around the country came together to focus on key areas to grow the market for short span steel bridges.

2-Days of Technical, Marketing and Industry Focused Events

The meeting kicked off Monday afternoon with a distinguished lineup of speakers and topics for the SSSBA Technical Council sessions that included:

• Built-Up Press-Brake Formed Tub Girders
• Orthotropic Steel Deck Bridge Demonstration Project
• Skewed Tub Girders & Improved Live Load Distribution Factors
• eSPAN140 Update
• Coatings Discussion
• EPA Grant to Enhance Emissions Reporting for Steel Construction Projects
• Simple for Dead, Continuous for Live Discussion
• Short Span Railroad Bridge Initiative
• Buried Steel Bridge Update
• Press-Brake Formed Tub Girder Guide/Update

David Stoddard, SSAB and Chair of the SSSBA, provided an updated on built-up press brake formed tub girders.

On Tuesday, the schedule featured SSSBA’s Marketing and Education Council and the SSSBA General Meeting, which included another round of noteworthy presenters and topics:

• SSSBA Marketing Program
• DIY: How Do You Approach a New Bridge Project?
• Data Mining
• Steel Bridge Project Updates & Success Stories Roundtable
  • Woodbury County, Iowa
  • Buchanan County, Iowa
  • Barron County, Wisconsin
  • Champaign County, Illinois
• LTAP and Regional Workshops
• Digital Marketing Update
• General Contractor Perspective: Decision Making Process
• Current State and Future Outlook of Short Span Bridges in North Carolina
• Engineering Firm Perspective: Decision Making Process
• National Association of County Engineers & Legislative Update

Attendees appreciated the opportunity to learn from real-world examples provided by industry experts on the advantages steel bridges present to the transportation industry.

The SSSBA Semiannual meeting included events and networking sessions during the 2-day event.

Networking Event Sponsors

A big thank you to the following companies who sponsored the networking event at the SSSBA meeting:

The SSSBA appreciates the support of the companies who sponsored the networking event at the SSSBA Semiannual meeting.

Diamond Sponsor

• ArcelorMittal (website)
• Acrow (website)
• AZZ Metal Coatings (website)
• Cleveland-Cliffs (website)
• National Steel Bridge Alliance (website)
• SSAB Americas (website)
• V&S Galvanizing (website)
• Valmont (website)

Gold Sponsor

• American Galvanizers Association (website)
• Contech Engineered Solutions (website)’
• High Steel Structures (website)
• South Atlantic Galvanizing (website)

Silver Sponsor

• Industrial Steel Construction (website)
• International Zinc Association (website)
• The Sherwin-Williams Company (website)
• Wheeler (website)

Next Meeting will be in February 2025

The next SSSBA Semiannual meeting will be held in February 2025. Additional information will be made available to the members soon.

If you would like more information on this event or to become a member of the SSSBA, please contact Dan Snyder at dsnyder@steel.org or complete an online membership application.