SSSBA Semi Annual Meeting Unites Industry Leaders to Advance Short Span Steel Bridges

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

The Short Span Steel Bridge Alliance (SSSBA) held its Semi Annual Meeting on March 12, 2025, at the American Iron and Steel Institute headquarters in Washington, DC. The hybrid event (virtual and in-person participation) gathered over 60 industry professionals, including fabricators, steel producers, coaters, faculty, county bridge owners and representatives from key partner organizations.

This meeting provided a collaborative forum for steel bridge stakeholders from across the country to focus on innovation, standardization, education and market development in the short span steel bridge sector. Attendees had the opportunity to hear from industry experts, share best practices, and discuss advancements that support the continued growth of short span steel bridges.

Key Meeting Highlights

David Stoddard, Chair of SSSBA and senior steel applications engineer at SSAB, kicked off the meeting with a welcome, followed by updates on the organization’s initiatives from Dan Snyder, director of the SSSBA and vice president of construction at AISI. Throughout the meeting, participants gained insights from leaders in short span steel bridge design and construction, including:

• Marketing and Education Initiatives: Michael Barker, SSSBA director of education and professor at University of Wyoming, highlighted the SSSBA’s recent marketing successes and upcoming activities, followed by a legislative and organization update from Kevan Stone, executive director of the National Association of County Engineers (NACE).
• Partner Organization Updates: Representatives from the American Galvanizers Association, National Corrugated Steel Pipe Association and National Steel Bridge Alliance shared key developments impacting the industry.
• Technical Advancements: Experts presented on the latest advancements in bridge design and corrosion protection, including updates on a new Simple Span Bridge Design Tool, Press-Brake Tub Girder developments and the update of the eSPAN140.
• Collaborative Discussions: The meeting concluded with an open session moderated by Dan Snyder, allowing members to engage in dialogue about emerging trends, new members, ongoing projects and opportunities for industry collaboration.

Commitment to Innovation and Collaboration

“This meeting was a testament to the continued strength and innovation of the steel bridge industry,” said Dan Snyder. “The discussions and updates shared today will help drive forward our mission to advance efficient, sustainable and cost-effective solutions for short span steel bridges.”

SSSBA remains committed to fostering collaboration among industry stakeholders and looks forward to continuing these important conversations throughout the year and at its next meeting.

Save the Date: Next SSSBA Meeting

The next SSSBA meeting will be co-located with the National Association of County Engineers (NACE) from September 22-24, 2025, in Indianapolis, IN.

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.