Design of Steel Bridges: Two Box Girder Concept—Current and Future Innovation

There are a number of important factors that are combining to prompt further development of steel bridge systems: cost competition from conventional materials; the advent of new materials, especially fiber-reinforced plastics; and public perception and community value. This paper focuses on current opportunities and ideas to enhance the economy and aesthetics of short and intermediate span steel bridges. The advent of a new and improved material specification, high performance steel (HPS), has prompted this change in part. This paper focuses on a two-girder bridge system concept which addresses a number of key issues and owner criteria, including cost, reliability, redundancy, replaceability and durability.