Short Span Steel Bridge Alliance

What Short Span Steel Bridge Alliance does

Short Span Steel Bridge Alliance (SSSBA) is a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit industry coalition founded in 2007 by Dan Snyder and industry leaders to advance the design and construction of short span steel bridges — bridges up to 140 feet in length. The organization serves state Departments of Transportation (DOTs), county engineers, and bridge design firms across North America (US, CAN, MEX), providing free educational resources, technical standards, and project assistance for short span steel bridge installations. Its core delivery assets are two free design tools — eSPAN140, a web-based tool that produces a customized steel solution in approximately five minutes, and eBEAM140, a September 2025-launched Excel-based tool for refining simple span composite and noncomposite steel beams — together with a product catalog spanning prefabricated bridges, rolled beam and plate girders, press brake tub girders (U-BEAM), buried steel bridges, trusses, pedestrian bridges, coatings and durability solutions, decks, and substructure components.

SSSBA is governed by a member base of steel producers (SSAB), fabricators (DeLong's, TrueNorth Steel, High Steel Structures, Valmont Structures), and infrastructure suppliers (Contech Engineered Solutions, Acrow), and academically anchored by the Bridge Education Center at the University of Wyoming (Dr. Michael Barker) and the Bridge Technology Center at West Virginia University (Dr. Karl Barth) and Marshall University (Dr. Greg Michaelson). Its GTM motion is sales-led in form but education-led in substance: free workshops, accredited webinar series (AIA and RCEP continuing education), co-located meetings with the National Association of County Engineers (NACE), and participation in NASCC, the International Bridge Conference, AASHTO convenings, and FHWA-engaged policy events. Revenue mechanics rest on industry contributions and partner co-sponsorship (e.g., co-developed webinars with the American Galvanizers Association); membership is publicized as free for a limited time but is supported underneath by sustaining industry members. The organization holds a co-stewardship role in the AISC/NSBA Prize Bridge Awards — Short Span category, and contributes to AASHTO specification development, including the 10th Edition provisions supporting Press Brake Tub Girder (U-BEAM) technology.

Name

Short Span Steel Bridge Alliance

Legal name

Short Span Steel Bridge Alliance

Website

https://shortspansteelbridges.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Short Span Steel Bridge Alliance is a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit founded in 2007 that provides free design tools (eSPAN140, eBEAM140), educational resources, and project assistance for short span steel bridges up to 140 feet, serving state DOTs, county engineers, and bridge designers across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Bridge Engineering Education and Market Development

NAICS

Engineering Services (54133), Engineering Services (541330)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711)

akta.pro primary industry

Engineering design services (line design, substation design, civil/structural) (EUADAKAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Structural Steel Welding & Erection-Focused Training (EDAOADAC)

Keywords

• Steel bridge design
• Short span bridges
• Bridge engineering education
• Bridge design tools
• Bridge construction resources

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Industry Membership: The SSSBA operates as a non-profit industry alliance. Regular and Associate Membership is offered FREE for a limited time to companies and organizations dedicated to growing the steel bridge market. Benefits include networking, lead access through eSPAN140, marketing exposure, and participation in councils and meetings.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Short Span Steel Bridge Alliance (SSSBA) is a non-profit industry alliance that provides free design tools (eSPAN140 and eBEAM140), educational resources, customized workshops, webinars, supplier directories, and project assistance to bridge owners, designers, and transportation agencies for the design and construction of short span steel bridges up to 140 feet in length.

Product overview

The Short Span Steel Bridge Alliance (SSSBA) offers a comprehensive suite of steel bridge solutions centered around its core design tools: eSPAN140 (free online design tool for bridges up to 140 feet) and eBEAM140 (Excel-based beam design tool). The organization provides multiple steel bridge product categories including Prefabricated Bridges, Rolled Beam & Plate Girder, Press Brake & Folded Plate (U-BEAM), Buried Steel Bridges, Truss, Pedestrian Bridges, Coatings & Durability Solutions, Decks, and Substructure & Foundation components. SSSBA also delivers educational services through free customized workshops, webinar series (such as Steel Bridges Beyond the Textbook and Steel Bridge Playbook), university outreach programs, a supplier directory, and project assistance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• eSPAN140 Free online design tool that provides customized steel solutions for bridges up to 140 feet, allowing users to create simple span bridge designs in approximately 5 minutes. Targeted at bridge owners, designers, and engineers.
• eBEAM140 Free Excel-based tool for designing and refining simple span composite and noncomposite steel bridge beams with precision beam calculations. Targeted at bridge engineers and designers.
• Steel Bridge Education Webinars Free educational webinar series covering steel bridge design, construction, and preservation including Steel Bridges Beyond the Textbook, Steel Bridge Playbook, and plate girder design courses. Offers AIA and RCEP accreditation for continuing education credits.
• Customized Steel Bridge Workshops Free customized in-person or virtual workshops for bridge owners, designers, DOTs, counties, and design firms covering practical steel bridge design topics including eSPAN140 tools and case studies.
• University Outreach Program Free 6-part live-lecture educational series created with University of Wyoming covering steel bridge design, fabrication, and construction, with certificates of completion. Targets civil engineering students and educators.
• Find a Supplier Directory Free online directory listing manufacturers and suppliers specializing in short span steel bridges, including member product information correlated with eSPAN140 search criteria.
• Project Assistance Free expert assistance for bridge owners and designers with questions or support for steel bridge projects, delivered by SSSBA technical staff and partner experts.
• Industry Membership (Regular and Associate) Free membership tiers for companies and organizations in the steel bridge industry. Regular Membership provides full participation benefits including council participation, semi-annual meetings, Find-A-Supplier listing, eSPAN140 Solutions Book listing, qualified leads, exhibit booth access, speaking opportunities, and marketing outreach. Associate Membership provides limited participation for specific interests or international organizations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 19% total cost savings compared to concrete structures (based on side-by-side comparison)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDan Snyder serves as both Director of SSSBA and Vice President of Construction at AISI. The organizations collaborate on market development, policy advocacy, and industry standards for steel in transportation infrastructure.
• National Steel Bridge Alliance (NSBA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNSBA and SSSBA collaborate on industry events, awards (Prize Bridge Awards), technical guidelines, and steel bridge education. NSBA is a major co-sponsor of the World Steel Bridge Symposium.
• American Galvanizers Association (AGA)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerAGA co-sponsors SSSBA webinar series (Steel Bridge Playbook) and provides technical resources on hot-dip galvanizing for steel bridge corrosion protection. The partnership delivers accredited continuing education (AIA, RCEP).
• University of WyomingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Michael Barker (Professor, Civil & Architectural Engineering) serves as Director of SSSBA Bridge Education Center. The university co-hosts educational webinar series with certificates of completion. Research includes life cycle cost analysis of 1,186 bridges.
• West Virginia UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Karl Barth (Jack H. Samples Distinguished Professor) serves as Co-Director of SSSBA Bridge Technology Center. Research includes press brake tub girder development, AASHTO LRFD code contributions, and high-cycle fatigue testing.
• Marshall UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Greg Michaelson (Associate Professor, Civil Engineering) serves as member of SSSBA Bridge Technology Center. Research focuses on structural engineering, steel bridge design efficiency, and modular/accelerated bridge construction.
• AASHTO (American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on transportation reauthorization, bridge specifications, and industry standards. AASHTO leadership participates in SSSBA Transportation Matters podcast and Washington briefings.
• DeLong's Inc.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSSSBA member and fabricator of award-winning Missouri FARM Bridges project. Participates in AISI Welding Advisory Group meetings and industry events.
• Contech Engineered SolutionscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSSSBA member supplying buried steel structures. Provided solutions for New Mexico DOT wildlife crossing project at Raton Pass and I-44 buried bridge project (NCSPA Project of the Year).
• AcrowcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSSSBA member supplying prefabricated modular steel bridges for DOT projects including Hawaii DOT Makaha replacement, Wyoming detour bridge, and Indiana/Michigan/Alabama bridge projects.
• Valmont StructurescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSSSBA member developing press-brake tub girder (U-BEAM) technology. Supplied bridges for Missouri, Alabama, Illinois, and Tennessee DOT projects with accelerated construction timelines.
• High Steel StructurescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSSSBA member and fabricator. Supplied steel for I-95 Philadelphia emergency bridge replacement and 3D-printed steel bridge showcased at NASCC.
• TrueNorth SteelcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSSSBA member and fabricator of award-winning Goose River Bridge in North Dakota (AISC/NSBA 2024 Prize Bridge Award).
• SSABcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSSSBA member and steel manufacturer. Myrissa Welch (Steel Applications Engineer) serves as Chair of SSSBA. David Stoddard (Senior Steel Applications Engineer) received 2024 Alexander D. Wilson Memorial Award.
• NACE (National Association of County Engineers)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerSSSBA presents, exhibits, and sponsors Executive Committee dinner at NACE Annual Conference. Co-locates semi-annual meetings with NACE Executive Committee meetings.
• Purdue UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSSSBA partnered with Purdue University and NSBA to offer free steel bridge seminar series featuring state-of-practice topics across fabrication, design, evaluation and inspection.
• Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on bridge standards, research, and funding programs. FHWA Administrator Sean McMaster addressed AISI General Meeting on domestic steel in infrastructure.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• National Steel Bridge Alliance: Sister organization under AISC that promotes steel bridge solutions across all span ranges. NSBA is the most direct comparable peer, sharing SSSBA's mission of advancing steel bridge adoption, co-sponsoring the Prize Bridge Awards and World Steel Bridge Symposium, and collaborating on technical guidelines.
• Portland Cement Association: The competing material trade association that promotes concrete construction including bridges. PCA is the closest direct competitor to SSSBA's mission, advocating for concrete bridge solutions to DOTs and county engineers using research, technical resources, and educational programming.
• Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute: Industry association for precast concrete manufacturers and suppliers, competing directly in the bridge substructure, deck, and structural elements markets where SSSBA member fabricators also operate. PCI pursues similar education, certification, and specification-development missions as SSSBA.

Broad incumbents

• American Institute of Steel Construction: Broader steel construction industry body that co-sponsors the Prize Bridge Awards with NSBA and supports steel structural solutions across buildings and infrastructure. AISC operates as an umbrella organization encompassing NSBA and adjacent to SSSBA's mission.
• American Concrete Institute: Standards and educational body for concrete materials and construction. ACI competes indirectly with SSSBA by setting concrete bridge design standards and certifications that DOTs reference, influencing material specification decisions.
• American Iron and Steel Institute: Parent strategic organization where SSSBA Director Dan Snyder serves as VP of Construction. AISI operates as the broader iron and steel industry trade association, of which SSSBA is a market-development initiative for the short span bridge segment.

Others

• National Association of County Engineers: Member organization for county engineers who are a primary SSSBA customer segment. NACE co-locates meetings with SSSBA and provides a distribution channel for steel bridge education to the county-level decision makers responsible for short span bridge replacement decisions.
• National Corrugated Steel Pipe Association: Trade association for corrugated steel pipe used in buried infrastructure applications, including buried steel bridges which SSSBA promotes. NCSPA has recognized SSSBA member Contech Engineered Solutions with project awards and shares thematic overlap in steel infrastructure market development.
• Steel Market Development Institute: A business unit of AISI that promotes steel market growth across construction, automotive, and other sectors. Functions as an adjacent market-development organization with overlapping steel-promotion mandate, though focused more broadly than SSSBA's bridge-specific niche.
• American Galvanizers Association: Trade association promoting hot-dip galvanizing for corrosion protection, including on steel bridges. AGA co-sponsors SSSBA's Steel Bridge Playbook webinar series and serves as a technical resource partner for steel bridge durability, creating an ecosystem ally rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/short-span-steel-bridge-alliance
• Xx.com/shortspansteel

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Short Span Steel Bridge Alliance