Short Span Steel Bridges 
Video: Steel Bridges for Local Communities
The Minnesota Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) and the Short Span Steel Bridge Alliance (SSSBA) co-sponsored a webinar on topics essential to the design and installation of steel bridges, including:
- Short span steel bridges and eSPAN140
- Bridge economy and life cycle costs of steel and concrete bridges
- Prefabricated steel bridges and accelerated bridge construction
- DIY: local crews building county bridges
- Simple-for-dead, continuous-for-live steel bridge construction
- Education resources through the SSSBA
The recorded presentation (January 2025) is now available to view on-demand (below).
* Please note: Professional development hours are not included for viewing the recorded session on this website page. If you registered for the webinar, you must complete the requirements directly provided through the Minnesota Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) to obtain learning credits.
Recorded Lecture
Steel Bridges for Local Communities
- Presenter: Michael G. Barker, Ph.D. (email), Professor, Civil & Architectural Engineering, University of Wyoming
- Download Presentation Slides
Schedule Your Own Workshop
The SSSBA is offering complimentary customized educational guest speakers/webinars and workshops (on-site or virtual) specifically for county engineers, state DOTs, and design firms. The webinars/workshops are taught by industry experts with decades of experience in the cost-effective design and construction of short span bridges.
For more information or to customize a workshop for your organization, please contact:
- Dan Snyder (Director of the SSSBA) at dsnyder@steel.org or 301-367-6179.
- Michael Barker (University of Wyoming & SSSBA Director of Education) at barker@uwyo.edu
Does the SSSBA offer educational opportunities?
Yes! The SSSBA offers educational opportunities to students and professionals:
Professionals: The SSSBA provides complimentary half-day or full-day workshops on short span steel bridge design to states, counties, and design firms. Topics covered include practical and cost-effective steel bridge design and fabrication with eSPAN140, press-brake-formed steel tub girders, steel buried bridge design, galvanized coating solutions, and economical design with case studies, and more. The workshops can take place virtually or in-person, compliments of the steel industry. Learn more.
Students: The University of Wyoming and the Short Span Steel Bridge Alliance created a free 6-part live-lecture educational series to cover the many aspects of designing, fabricating, and constructing steel bridges. All students who successfully complete the education series will receive a Certificate of Completion from the University of Wyoming. Learn more.
Speakers: The SSSBA provides expert speakers to present topics of interest on the cost-effective design and construction of short span steel bridges. If you need a speaker for your next event, contact the SSSBA.
Events
Infrastructure Week 2026: How Steel Bridges Maximize Transportation Investment (May 20)
Join the Short Span Steel Bridge Alliance, American Iron and Steel Institute and the American Galvanizers Association during Infrastructure Week 2026 for a free webinar exploring how resilient design strategies can help maximize the long-term impact of federal infrastructure investment. 1.0 LU/PDH (HSW Hour) provided.
Events
Free Live Lecture: Steel Bridges – Smarter by the Numbers (May 14 – Portland, OR)
Attend a free Lunch & Learn exploring how data-driven comparisons between steel and concrete can support smarter bridge design, cost and lifecycle decisions. Hosted by SSSBA member Fought & Company and led by Dr. Michael G. Barker, the session will highlight how broader evaluation criteria can improve project outcomes.
Events
Short Span Steel Bridge Alliance Semi-Annual Meeting (Oct. 12-14, 2026 – Omaha, NE)
SSSBA members are invited to attend the next Semi-Annual meeting in Omaha, Nebraska to discuss the latest research, technical advancements and educational initiatives in steel bridge design and construction. This meeting will be co-located with the National Association of County Engineers (NACE) Executive Committee and Board meetings.