SSSBA Gathers Industry Leaders to Advance Steel Bridge Solutions in Washington, DC

Image: Members of the Short Span Steel Bridge Alliance in Washington, DC.

The Short Span Steel Bridge Alliance (SSSBA) held its Semi-Annual membership meeting on March 5, 2026, in Washington, DC, at the headquarters of the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI). Chaired by Myrissa Welch of SSAB Americas, the meeting brought together industry leaders to share research, explore technical developments and review educational initiatives focused on short span steel bridges up to 140 feet in length.

SSSBA members meet twice each year to exchange information and coordinate activities that support the design, construction and promotion of steel solutions for short span bridges.

SSSBA Marketing and Education Council Reviews Program Activities

The SSSBA Marketing Council session focused on recent accomplishments and future outreach activities designed to expand the use of steel bridges.

Key discussion topics included:

• Updates on recent SSSBA marketing and education activities
• Outreach efforts with counties, departments of transportation, and design firms
• Developments in hybrid zinc coating systems for steel bridge applications
• Open discussion on market data needs, market challenges, and opportunities to increase steel bridge adoption

SSSBA Technical Council Highlights Research and Design Tools

The SSSBA Technical Council session focused on research developments and engineering tools that support efficient bridge design.

Presentations and discussions included:

• Research on the design efficiency of steel plate girder bridges
• Recent innovations and updates involving buried steel bridge structures
• Updates on SSSBA design tools including eSPAN140 and development of the new ePLATE140 design tool

These tools help engineers evaluate design alternatives and streamline the development of short span steel bridge solutions.

General Session Offers Insight on Key Legislative Activities and Industry Updates

The afternoon general session included several updates on infrastructure policy and industry conditions.

Topics discussed included:

• Legislative and policy updates affecting county transportation infrastructure
• Priorities for the upcoming surface transportation reauthorization process
• A steel industry update and current market conditions

These discussions provided important context on how national policy and industry trends may influence bridge construction and infrastructure investment.

Partner Organization Updates

Several partner organizations shared brief updates on their activities and collaboration with the steel bridge industry, including:

• American Galvanizers Association
• International Zinc Association
• National Corrugated Steel Pipe Association
• National Steel Bridge Alliance

These updates highlighted ongoing research, education, and collaboration efforts that support steel infrastructure solutions.

Open Discussion on Emerging Topics

The meeting concluded with an open discussion session where members shared updates and discussed emerging topics relevant to the short span bridge market.

Topics included:

• Polymer coating technologies for steel bridge applications
• Shallow fabricated tub girder solutions for grade separations
• Zinc metallic coatings for bridge preservation

The discussion provided an opportunity for members to exchange ideas and identify potential areas for future research and industry collaboration.

Next Meeting

The next SSSBA meeting is tentatively planned for October 2026 in Omaha, Nebraska. The meeting will be co-located with the National Association of County Engineers Executive Committee and Board meeting.

County engineers manage nearly half of the nation’s roads and approximately forty percent of its bridges, making their partnership important for advancing efficient and resilient steel bridge solutions nationwide.

Additional information will be provided to SSSBA members in the coming months.

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.