Short Span Steel Bridges 
University of Florida Wins 2024 Student Bridge Competition
June 4, 2024
Article and images provided by the National Steel Bridge Alliance
Student engineers from the University of Florida secured their fourth straight first-place overall win in the 2024 Student Steel Bridge Competition (SSBC) National Finals on June 1, breaking the consecutive titles record they set themselves in 2023.
Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, La. served as the host school for the 2024 competition.
This year’s SSBC participants were challenged to design, fabricate, and quickly construct a scale-model steel bridge that would span a man-made river in a large disc golf course. Competitors had to find innovative ways to navigate new rules and challenging assembly constraints, including one of the widest conceptual rivers in the competition’s history.
“The competition weekend was a huge success,” said Christina Harber, SE, PE, AISC’s senior director of education. “There were so many excellent bridges, and I was really impressed with the high level of competition. These students worked all year on design, fabrication, and construction and competed with the best of the best. AISC is proud of all of them, and they should be proud of themselves, too.”
Read Original Article / View Final Results
The Student Steel Bridge Competition is a partnership between the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) and the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).
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.
News
FHWA Makes $3B Available for Bridge Investment – Bridge Applications Due June 29
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is making $3 billion available through its Bridge Investment Program for states to invest in aging bridge infrastructure across the country. Planning grant applications are due June 15, with bridge project grant applications due June 29.
News
Infrastructure Week 2026 On-Demand Webinar: How Steel Bridges Maximize Transportation Investment
During Infrastructure Week 2026, the SSSBA, in cooperation with the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) and the American Galvanizers Association (AGA), hosted a webinar focused on practical, cost-effective infrastructure solutions. Now available on-demand, it highlights how resilient steel bridge design helps extend transportation dollars while improving long-term performance, durability, and reliability.
News
SSSBA Partners with Fought & Company for High-Impact Steel Bridge Lunch & Learn
SSSBA participated in a Lunch & Learn hosted by Fought & Company in Portland, bringing together more than 50 industry professionals. Michael Barker led a discussion on how bridge material choices influence long-term performance, cost, and resilience.