START BUILDING YOUR BRIDGE TODAY
START BUILDING YOUR BRIDGE TODAY
This is a Warren Truss girder bridge that is formed by a top chord with a polygonal (camelback) shaped geometry. This truss eliminates verticals at the top chord panel points. It is an efficient use of steel and one that is a classic choice for rural or industrial settings.
This is a Warren Truss girder bridge that is formed by a top chord with a parallel chord (flat) geometry. This truss eliminates verticals at the top chord panel points. It has a sturdy look and is a great choice for multiple span bridges or bridges set in urban or rural settings.
This bow-string Pratt Truss girder bridge is formed by mechanically curving the top chord into an arch shape along a parabolic curve. It has vertical members at every panel point which shrinks the floor beams and minimizes or eliminates stringer beams.
This modified bow-string arch style is configured from a Pratt Truss using vertical end posts. It is similar to the Seneca style, with vertical members at every panel point which shrinks the floor beams and minimizes or eliminates stringer beams.
This constant depth truss style is configured from a Pratt Truss using parallel chord members and vertical end posts. The Voyager functions perfectly as a vehicular bridge on driveways or enhances recreation areas or park lands where light traffic is experienced.
This bridge is made from prefabricated panels and assembled into modules. It follows the constant depth form of the Voyager (Pratt Truss) but is designed to be containerized and easy to construct. It is preferred as a permanent or emergency installation and for owners with large inventories.
Designed specifically for all self-installation
This is a simple span beam bridge that supports a concrete deck slab and stay-in-place forms, or a bridge plank and asphalt system. It is a short span solution that is very competitive with prestressed concrete alternatives, especially when member weight and dead loads are a concern.
Complete Bridge Kit
Numerous flooring options are available including asphalt, reinforced concrete, open grid metal, and treated timber
EASY TO ASSEMBLE
No need for specialized equipment. Multiple finishes available.
Designed Specifically for longer Spans
THRU TRUSS Bridge
Explore the Thru Truss
The Thru Truss describes high or box truss bridges. It involves portal frames which increases their span capability. In doing so, the vertical clearance above the bridge’s roadway sets the truss height. [Because of the deeper truss girders, shipping of full-depth pre-assembled sections is challenging and many times not available. The pre-assembly is usually limited to attaching gusset plates to the chord members with vertical and diagonal members being added in the field.
Numerous flooring options are available including asphalt, reinforced concrete, open grid metal decking, and treated timber
The Choice of floor and deck construction for your bridge is important to your bridge design
The most commonly constructed deck element is the concrete deck slab. This structural slab is designed to be between 7” and 9” thick and is reinforced with two layers of steel reinforcing bars. Many times these bars are coated with epoxy for corrosion protection depending on the bridge location and environment. The slab is formed by constructing removable formwork from lumber and plywood panels, or by attaching permanent light gage metal forms to the steel superstructure. These steel forms are often called “Stay-in-Place” forms and are abbreviated as “SIP” forms. The SIP formwork speeds construction by eliminating the removal step associated with the plywood forms.
A very low-cost and accelerated construction option for bridges on rural routes is the precast concrete plank floor. These conventionally reinforced planks are designed to be installed one day and open to traffic by the end of the second day. They are sized to be lifted using light excavating equipment and then attached to the steel superstructure through headed studs and grout pockets formed in the plank itself. Neoprene gaskets are placed under the pockets to prevent leakage of the high strength grout. The quick setting, non-shrink grout can be mixed in batches on site and poured using manual tools and a wheel barrow.
For rural, rustic locations such as on a trail or forest road, a nail-laminated timber floor for your bridge can be a good choice. U.S. Bridge will supply the timber, nails and attachment clips for the project. Treated lumber is used for the floor and is separated by a thin neoprene sheet to protect the weathering or galvanized steel from interaction with the preservative treatment’s chemicals. The floor can remain exposed or be topped with asphalt paving courses.
Open grid steel decking is a category of deck constructions that can be characterized by whether the grid incorporates poured concrete as a protective encasement or not. It is further specified as “filled”, “partially-filled” or “unfilled”. With regard to the filled and partially filled grids, a metal form or pan is included in the grid at the bottom or mid-height of the grid and forms the poured concrete around the steel grid. There are numerous grid heights and span capacities to evaluate in conjunction with proposed stringer spacings. A lightweight hybrid system exists called “Exodermic Deck” that combines attributes of a poured structural slab with the lightweight characteristics of open grid steel decks. This special floor construction is an outstanding option when weight limiting constraints are put upon a project.
Two versions of corrugated steel bridge planking are used on beam or truss bridges. Bridge plank is roll-formed into 3” or 4 ¼” corrugations. Each plank has a specially formed flange that allows for proper overlapping. The planks are cut to size to match the bridge width and skew and hot dip galvanized after fabrication. Asphalt paving or plain concrete can be used as a fill material to create a wearing surface for traffic. Hot dip galvanizing of the planks results in a long-lasting corrosion protection that, coupled with a waterproofing membrane and proper paving details, provide for an economical, long-lasting bridge floor.
Choosing the proper railing as a bridge owner has the same importance as floor construction. The selection of a railing or barrier has an effect on many dimensions and details of the construction of your bridge. The different railing specifications we follow provide an array of solutions addressing safety, aesthetics, costs and longevity.
The W-Beam Rail is attached to steel posts or truss girders. It is a simple railing that usually is accompanied by a block out between it and its supporting element. It can be strengthened by doubling it, sometimes called “nested rail”. It also can be strengthened by backing it up with continuous tubular steel elements. The height specified for this railing is commonly 27” from the top of the rail to the pavement
Steel Thrie-Beam Rail is similar in nature to the W-Beam Rail except it is deeper (20” tall) than the W-Beam. It is considered a more robust section and used where higher traffic volumes are expected with a traffic mix trending toward heavier trucks. It comes in standard rail lengths of 12’-6” and is mounted and spliced except that it has two rows of mounting bolts instead of one. U.S. Bridge will supply standard or custom fabricated Thrie-Beam Rail that is needed for your project.
One of the most common steel railing constructions in use today by State Departments of Transportation is a multi-element tubular rail system. Built alone or in combination with a concrete curb or low barrier wall, this post and beam rail type has strength and utility as a traffic barrier and a combination barrier. Many different crash-tested standards exist among the different state DOT’s and their heights above pavement varying as well. Each is able to be accommodated in our design and planning, if the standard to follow is designated.
A poured concrete barrier, integrally attached to a concrete deck slab, is a very robust and resistant bridge railing. It is common for higher speed roadways and places where run-off the road accidents are prevalent. It is not always specified by bridge owners, because for one, it is expensive to construct and two, it is a barrier to open viewing. Wall barriers are sometimes combined with tubular rail systems and this provides a compromise between robust construction and visibility. Any of these walls or barrier designs can be specified and constructed with all of our bridge styles.
Ornamental or architectural steel railings for pedestrian bridges can be a beautiful addition and bring attention for viewers on and off the bridge. Many times these are included on bridges entering a town area where aesthetic treatments are highlighted and visual impact is important. If you have an idea or would like to see some options, we are available to help with ideas, or help visualize what is possible.
Designed specifically for your project
We provide the highest standard of quality and care for every project that we create. With a variety of designs, our bridges have been incorporated into residential developments, shopping and medical centers, industrial parks, and even private residences. Erected fast and built to last, let us help you enhance the entrance to your development.
Numerous flooring options are available including asphalt, reinforced concrete, open grid metal decking, and treated timber
Custom Designed and Prefabricated Steel Bridges for Pedestrian Use
We can offer you a broad range of distinctive designs that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also functional. For specific needs, we can custom design a solution to meet your unique application.
Numerous flooring options are available including asphalt, reinforced concrete, open grid metal decking, and treated timber
Designed for Heavy Loadings and Harsh Environments
Used in mining applications across the world, our structures are designed to accommodate the heaviest loads in the harshest environments in the industry. Erected fast and built to last, carrying a fully loaded CAT 785 is no challenge for these structures:
Numerous flooring options are available including asphalt, reinforced concrete, open grid metal decking, and treated timber
Designed Specifically for Railroad Applications
For decades, our partner has provided steel truss bridge structures that even have been incorporated into rail projects. As a result of their inherent quality of minimizing the depth of structure, total project costs are dramatically reduced when compared to other structure types. Steel truss bridges in these locations significantly reduce approach roadway construction thereby shortening the duration of the project and eliminating unnecessary costs.
Permanent | Emergency | Temporary Modular Steel Bridges
The bridge style is made from prefabricated panels and assembled into modules. It follows the constant depth form of the Voyager (Pratt Truss) but is designed to be containerized and easy to construct. It is ideal for temporary or emergency applications and for owners with large inventories.
