Short Span Steel Bridges 
SSSBA to Present, Exhibit and Sponsor Executive Dinner at NACE Conference in Texas (April 12-15)
The Short Span Steel Bridge Alliance will present, exhibit and sponsor the NACE executive committee dinner at the National Association of County Engineers (NACE) Annual Conference – April 12-15, 2026 at the Loews Hotel & Arlington Convention Center in Arlington, Texas.
SSSBA Exhibit Booth (#413)
Stop by the SSSBA exhibit booth #413 to meet with our staff, members and learn about the benefits of short span steel bridges:
SSSBA Exhibit Booth
- Location: Booth #413 (American Iron and Steel Institute / Short Span Steel Bridge Alliance)
- Dates/Times:
- Monday, April 13, 3:00-5:30 pm CT
- Tuesday, April 14, 8:00 am-3:00 pm CT
The following SSSBA members are also exhibiting at the conference:
- Acrow Bridge
- Contech Engineered Solutions
- Lane Enterprises, LLC
- TrueNorth Steel
- U.S. Bridge
- Wheeler
Presentation
Attend an SSSBA sponsored presentation by Dr. Michael Barker, SSSBA Director of Education and Professor at the University of Wyoming, on a free new tool developed to optimize steel bridge design in minutes!
Dr. Michael Barker
- Date: Wednesday, April 15, 10:30-11:20 AM CT
- Session: SE5, Technical Track- Structures and Environment
- Room: Steer A (Loews Hotel & Arlington Convention Center in Arlington)
- Session Title: Optimized Simple Span Steel Bridge Design in Minutes: A Practical Design Tool for County Engineers
- Presentation: Download Slides (PDF)
- Speaker: Dr. Michael Barker, SSSBA Director of Education and Professor at the University of Wyoming
- Session Description: This session introduces the SSSBA simple span steel bridge design tool eBEAM140, developed in accordance with the AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications, 10th Edition. The tool accommodates any girder and diaphragm spacing—including skewed bridge configurations—using either 50 or 65 ksi steel. It supports all common decking materials and is suitable for composite and noncomposite bridges with two to four design lanes. The loading options are highly flexible, allowing users to define custom truck loads with specific characteristics. The program evaluates Strength I and II, Service II, Construction, Fatigue, and Deflection Limit States, and also designs shear studs for composite bridges. Built-in flexibility supports “What-If” scenario testing, giving engineers control over section selection, unbraced lengths, and layout variations. The program also includes a design solution, produced by the tool, to include all relevant structural parameters and is exportable for documentation and verification. With this free tool from the SSSBA, bridge owners and designers can explore cost-effective alternatives, reduce design cycles, and make faster, more resilient infrastructure decisions.
NACE Executive Dinner Sponsors
A BIG thank you to the following companies who are sponsoring the NACE Executive Committee Dinner on Saturday, April 11th:
NACE 2026 Executive Dinner Sponsors
- Acrow
- American Galvanizers Association
- AZZ Metal Coatings
- Cleveland-Cliffs
- Contech Engineered Solutions
- Infra-Metals
- International Zinc Association
- National Corrugated Steel Pipe Association
- National Steel Bridge Alliance
- South Atlantic LLC
- SSAB
- The Sherwin-Williams Company
- V&S Galvanizing
- Valmont Coatings
Additional Steel Bridge Resources
Design Tools
- eBEAM140: Free Excel-based tool for designing and refining simple span composite and noncomposite steel bridge beams
- eSPAN140: Create Simple Span Bridge Designs in 5-Minutes
Research Reports
- Sustainability of Rural Steel and Concrete Bridges
- Life Cycle Costs Matter When Comparing Steel and Concrete Girder Bridges
Educational Opportunities
Case Studies
- Bridges of Franklin County: Why Missouri is Turning to Steel
- Buried Steel Bridge Preserves Streambed While Supporting Heavy Loads
- Steel in Action: On-Demand Steel Bridge Video Series
- MoDOT Reimagines Rural Steel Bridges through SDCL Design
- Buried Steel Bridge Saves Ohio County $17,000
- County Saves $30,000 Using a Prefabricated Steel Bridge Instead of Concrete
- Missouri Short Span Bridge Study Finds Steel Saved 25% Over Concrete
Press Brake & Folded Plate
Growing Momentum for Press-Brake Tub Girders in Short Span Bridge Construction
Growing fabrication capabilities and successful bridge installations are creating new opportunities for press-brake tub girders in short span bridge construction. Recent developments involving Nelson Bridge Systems and Delta Steel demonstrate how industry collaboration is helping expand the availability and use of this innovative technology.
Durability & Coatings
Steel Bridge Durability: Weathering Steel and Corrosion Protection Resources
The SSSBA, with assistance from the National Steel Bridge Alliance (NSBA), has compiled technical resources on weathering steel performance and corrosion protection systems for steel bridges. These resources provide research findings, design guidance, and best practices to help bridge owners and engineers make informed decisions that support long-term bridge durability.
News
Steel Bridge Task Force Honors Thomas Murphy with 2026 Richard S. Fountain Award
The Steel Bridge Task Force honored Thomas P. Murphy of Modjeski and Masters with the 2026 Richard S. Fountain Award during its September 28 meeting in Anchorage, Alaska. The award recognizes Murphy’s outstanding leadership and contributions to advancing steel bridge design, research and AASHTO specifications.