Short Span Steel Bridges 
Steel Pipe Arch Bridge Restores Roadway After Peak Storm
Article and photos provided by TrueNorth Steel. and the National Corrugated Steel Pipe Association
After several peak storm events washed out a section of a North Dakota Badlands Forest Service access road, the Forest Service teamed up with Kadrmas Lee Jackson’s (KLJ) engineers and Hlebechuk Construction to make some very quick repairs.
The arch pipe included a corrugated steel headwall system within it’s design.
Because of the high flow volume of water that this area received, KLJ sized the crossing to receive a 144” arch pipe measuring 171” x 110” x 5” x 1″ corrugation with a corrugated steel headwall system incorporated into the design.
The addition of the corrugated steel headwall system reduced the potential for water migrating past the outside of the pipe – dropping the chances of the backfill materials being washed downstream.
Hlebechuk Construction was very familiar with the corrugated steel pipe installation and did an excellent job with the construction of this project.
Every detail of the install, from the subgrade and bedding to the packing under the haunches and throughout all levels, was done with the upmost care to ensure the large arch pipe was thoroughly supported.
What is a Pipe Arch?
Corrugated steel pipe and structural plate pipe offer designers a wide choice of standard cross-sectional arch shapes. Pipe arches are produced from round corrugated steel pipe by either applying and internal or external pressure to achieve the specified span and rise dimensions. Planned size and site conditions often impact the shape selected, with strength and economy as additional factors. Pipe arches are particularly useful for sites where headroom is limited and also have a hydraulic advantage at low flows.
Pipe arches are produced from round corrugated steel pipe by either applying and internal or external pressure to achieve the specified span and rise dimensions.
The benefits of corrugated steel pipe arches include:
- Limited headroom conditions
- Improved hydraulic capacity at low flows
- Various span and rise configurations available
- Aesthetic shape and appearance
- Light weight construction
- Easy installation
For more information, contact TrueNorth Steel.
What are buried steel bridges?
Buried steel bridges provide an economical choices for bridge replacement or bridge rehabilitation.
They essentially are a corrugated steel pipe or structural plate pipe systems that is “buried” with backfill to carry loads through soil-structure interaction. This means the bridge structure itself and the backfill soils surrounding the structure interact with each other to support the loads. In effect, the backfill material is part of the bridge.
Because of this interaction, the bridge structure is typically lighter, and there can be significant savings in structure costs.
There are also many cases where buried bridges can carry heavier loads than traditional bridges because of the benefits of spreading vehicle loads through the fill. Buried bridges do not require abutments; and unless foundation soil conditions are poor, do not typically
require deep foundations.An additional benefit with buried bridges is that they can be tailored to site conditions and geometric requirements. The design includes inputs for site soils and backfill, meaning that locally available materials can often be used in construction and the structure can be tailored to fit the needs of the site and the owner’s requirements.
Buried Bridge
Buried Steel Bridge Preserves Streambed While Supporting Heavy Loads
A new galvanized buried steel bridge in Riverside, Iowa, supplied by SSSBA member Lane Enterprises, replaced a weight-restricted structure and restored direct access for local farmers. Its open-bottom steel design preserves the natural streambed, enhances durability, and provides a cost-effective solution for rural infrastructure.
Buried Bridge
Buried Steel Bridge Protects Wildlife and Motorists in New Mexico DOT Project
The New Mexico DOT buried steel bridge project, featuring SSSBA member Contech’s custom structural plate design, was honored as the NCSPA Project of the Year for its innovative wildlife crossing solution on I-25 at Raton Pass.
Case Study
Steel in Action: On-Demand Steel Bridge Video Series
Watch this four-part, on-demand video series featuring expert-led case studies on cost-effective, resilient short span bridge projects—now available with downloadable presentation materials.