Tag Archive for: steel bridge construction

Recycled Steel in Construction

,

Steel is one of the most popular construction materials available. It’s non-flammable and a better choice in areas that might be prone to earthquakes or other natural disasters as it is less likely to warp. It is also stable enough to sustain high winds, which makes it a great option for areas that are often affected by hurricanes.

In fact, it is one of the most durable construction materials available. But its strength and long life span isn’t the only important thing about steel. Its sustainable features make recycled steel one of the best materials available for construction projects.

How it Works

One of steel’s best features is that it can be recycled. In fact, over 90% of a steel building or fixture can be recycled and reused for another project. This is a far higher recycling rate than other common building materials, like concrete or wood. As a result, the steel industry has reduced greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 36% in the past 30 years.

Recycling steel is fairly easy. The steel is magnetically separated from other materials and then shipped to steel mills or other factors for recycling. It is then melted down and recreated into the manufacturer’s desired molds. In 2019, recycled steel accounted for about 600 million tons of all steel produced.

The primary issue when recycling steel is identifying and separating different steel grades from one another during demolition. According to the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, there are 316 different grades of steel.

Why Recycled Steel

The majority of construction demolition are heavy bulk wastes like concrete which are generally downcycled into general fill. However, many companies are seeing the benefits of using sustainable materials like steel instead of or in pair with concrete.

Nowadays, ninety-three percent of all steel used in construction projects is recycled. Why? Because it poses many benefits for companies as well as the environment including reducing waste by diverting it from landfills and back into other projects.

  • It reduces waste and is eco-friendly. One major benefit of reusing steel from buildings and structures is that beams, columns, and other structural pieces can be used without having to be re-melted or processed. Scrap pieces of steel, on the other hand, can be melted down and made into something new. In fact, 98 percent of a building’s steel is recycled back into other steel projects after the building’s life-cycle ends.
  • It retains its quality. Steel’s quality is not compromised, even after it’s recycled. Reusing steel doesn’t degrade the products’ strength or value and it has a great weight capacity.
  • It saves money. While recycled steel is no different in quality than new steel, it is however cheaper. Its lightweight nature means less use of heavyweight equipment and lifts. Additionally, builders save money on maintenance and repair due to steel’s long life span and durability.

When construction projects have the chance to cost millions of dollars, saving on one of your primary building materials is a huge win. Plus, it conserves primary resources and raw materials by using recycled components.

U.S. Bridge & Recycled Steel

U.S. Bridge prides itself on building structures that last. Construction plays a major impact on a country’s environment including its carbon footprint. Steel is a great material to consider in any project.

We’re confident our durable steel bridges will withstand the pressure and be around for decades. To discover what our professional team can do for your next project, please contact us. Or use our new interactive tool the Bridge Scope to determine your project’s scope today.

Permanent vs Temporary Bridge Construction: A Guide

,
Temporary vs Permanent Bridge Construction | U.S. Bridge

If you’re attempting to restore an existing bridge or trying to replace a destroyed bridge, you may be wondering if you should erect a permanent bridge or a temporary one. Most likely, you’re thinking of building a temporary bridge construction until the permanent construction is done — but does that really save money?

What exactly is the difference between temporary and permanent bridge construction? With advancements in technology, specifically accelerated bridge construction, many projects can forgo a temporary bridge — often saving millions of dollars.

Let’s break down the main differences between permanent and temporary bridge construction.

Time: How soon do you need the bridge?

Generally, temporary bridges are quick to erect and dismantle as they are often used in emergency scenarios. That being said, temporary bridges take away time and money from permanent constructions. With just a few more weeks, a permanent bridge can be built without the added effort of a temporary bridge. This can save taxpayers and local governments by forgoing them whenever possible.

Many temporary and permanent bridge construction are pre-assembled if they are made with prefabricated bridge kits. This saves builders time during the planning and construction phase.

Additionally, prefabricated kits manufactured by U.S. Bridge ensure the addition of a U.S. Bridge team member to oversee the construction, to make it efficient and effective.

Affordability: How does it affect your budget?

Recently, more and more bridges are completed with prefabricated construction and are produced with lightweight materials such as steel. This means that less heavy equipment is required for installation. For example, our bridge kits are assembled before they reach the job site.

Ultimately, the erection of a temporary and permanent bridge is more expensive since builders are erecting two structures rather than one.  Builders can save money by investing in a prefabricated permanent bridge rather than erect a temporary bridge.

Longevity: How long do you need the bridge?

Temporary bridges are just that: temporary structures. Its integrity is intended for a select period of time and in comparison to permanent bridges — which are meant to last for generations — it isn’t suited for nearly the same amount of constant traffic use. Temporary bridges may need frequent examinations to ensure that the bridge is able to hold the weight of daily traffic.

The life span of any construction will depend on the level of maintenance kept. Several elements such as the location, weather, and usage frequency all contribute to the erosion of a bridge. Additionally, the longevity of a bridge is determined by the material used. Builders can aid in the prevention of erosion by protecting their bridges with galvanization or other preventative methods.

Since each bridge varies, builders should seek the manufacturer for specific instructions on installation and long-term maintenance.

Build your bridge with U.S. Bridge

With over 80 years in the bridge construction industry, U.S. Bridges has designed, engineered, and built over 10,000 bridges worldwide. We’ve built various bridges from prefabricated to permanent construction such as the Mulholland Highway Bridge in Los Angeles County and the Marble Cliff bridge in Columbus, Ohio.

In addition, to facilitate the building process we design custom prefabricated Bridge Kits that come with one of our experienced team members to assist construction. We build each bridge to fit your specific needs. Contact us today and let’s talk about how we can make your bridge project a long-lasting success.

Bridge Kits: A Solution for Accelerated Bridge Construction

U.S. Bridge Kits

Accelerated bridge construction (ABC) is an evolution in project planning for bridge construction. Often, bridges need to be constructed quickly and under a tight budget. Meanwhile, they need to maintain safety, quality, durability, and costs. To solve these problems, U.S. Bridge created Bridge Kits, a DIY solution for accelerated bridge construction.

Bridge Kits work best for bridge builders who have the labor and equipment to install bridges, but not the engineering or manufacturing capabilities. Therefore, construction teams across the country use our Bridge Kits to accelerate bridge construction and decrease costs.

U.S. Bridge has decades of experience in manufacturing and engineering steel bridges. Just like all of our bridges, the Bridge Kits are custom designed to provide a sustainable bridge structure that fits your needs. Additionally, they are a paradigm shift in bridge construction to fast-track quality bridge projects everywhere.

Bridge Kits are a Cost-Effective Bridge Solution

Our bridge kits improve site constructability and project delivery time by fully preparing our materials to be installed. In turn, we’re able to save bridge owners money. All of our kits currently come with our Cortez Bridge design. This design has already proven useful in quick builds. However, construction is even easier now, with manufactured parts shipping directly to job sites.

“Three main benefits of using ABC methods include minimized impact to traffic, increased
safety during construction, and minimized impacts in environmentally sensitive areas,” according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.

Bridge Kits Engineering

Engineering and Design

We have decades of experience in engineering and designing bridges to particular specifications. As a result, our team knows how to build great bridges. We can ensure the durability of our high-quality materials to keep bridges in shape for decades to come.

Bridge Kits - Manufacturing

Manufacturing

Following design, we manufacture all of the parts for your bridge. We work with environmentally-friendly materials to produce aesthetically-pleasing, long-lasting bridges. Off-site work on parts of the bridge leads to faster bridge construction on-site. In turn, projects are completed faster, lane closures decrease, and work-zone safety increases.

Lastly, we provide galvanizing for corrosion protection for steel in all of our Bridge Kits. As a result of galvanizing, we create long-lasting structures that keep bridges maintenance-free for 50 years or more.

Shipping

U.S. Bridge has delivered bridges worldwide for decades. Our Bridge Kits are no different. Firstly, we deliver the manufactured parts right to your construction site. Then your team can construct it from the first day materials are on-site.

What the Bridge Kits include

Once the span and width of the bridge are set, we manufacture every part you need to build the bridge. In our accelerated bridge construction, we deliver all the parts you need for easy construction.

  • Bridge and Pedestrian Railings
  • Bearings
  • Expansion Joints
  • Anchor Bolts
  • Structural Fasteners
  • Floor or Deck System
  • Various additional customizations

U.S. Bridge manufactures steel per AISC certifications. Coupled with extensive experience, our manufacturers are fabricating high-quality bridges. Bridge Kits are consistent with our efforts to improve infrastructure and the nation’s transportation system with innovative bridge construction.

Our Cortez Bridge Design

Currently, all of our Bridge Kits come in our Cortez design. The Cortez design is perfect for short spans, but is very adaptable and versatile to fit the needs of your bridge. It’s a simple span beam bridge, which supports a concrete deck slab and stay-in-place forms. Above all, it’s easy to install without highly-specialized equipment. Similarly to all of our bridges, Cortez’s high-quality steel constructions are extremely durable and guarantee minimal to no maintenance.

Let’s Piece it Together

U.S. Bridge proudly delivers on long-lasting bridge construction projects around the world. We regard every detail of your bridge with a high level of attention and efficiency to ensure it’s high-quality. If you’d like to know more about our Bridge Kits and accelerated bridge construction, please contact us today for a free quote.

Achieving Job Satisfaction in Construction

Achieving Job Satisfaction

Nothing beats the feeling of looking forward to work the next day. Over the years, job satisfaction in the workforce has increased significantly. In fact, according to the Employee Job Satisfaction and Engagement Report led by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), the number of employees satisfied with their job rose from 81% in 2013 to 88% in 2016. In just three years, the percentage increased by 7%! Figuring out ways to attain job satisfaction among industries will enhance work ethic and strengthen customer service. But how can we achieve this goal?

Benefits of Job Satisfaction

In a competitive market, customers have plenty of companies to target. The goal is to be their number one choice. Keeping workers happy will strengthen the overall company and will boost a customer’s desire to work with you. There are many benefits that result from content laborers including:

  • Higher productivity
  • Increased profits
  • Greater work ethic
  • Healthy environment
  • Enhanced collaboration

Overall, employees are one of the top resources of an organization. According to a study led by Pew Research Center, about 51% of U.S. workers say they get a sense of identity from their job. This is extremely important as it helps shape people and their careers.

Construction Industry

Bouncing back from a recession low, the construction industry has been working its way back up. According to TINYpulse’s Best Industry Ranking report, from over 30,000 employees across more than 500 organizations and among 12 distinct industries, construction and facility service workers are the happiest employees. Much of that number comes from thorough training. As new workers enter the industry, employers are working hard to properly train new employees on overall skills.

Mental Health Awareness

Ironically, as the above study shows that construction workers are the happiest among industries, mental health is still a factor to consider. Overall, the social stigma about mental health is gradually decreasing. So it is important to make sure team members feel at ease, safe, and motivated to work. According to the Health and Safety Executive, work-related ill health is increasing in the construction sector. In fact, everyday presents risks on the job site. With the use of heavy and potentially dangerous equipment, safety is the number 1 factor to keep in mind in the construction industry. Each year, about 2,000 accidents occur among workers that lead to injury or fatalities. With that said, it is crucial that construction companies make sure their employees communicate any discomfort or stress-related health issues in advance.

Job Satisfaction is a Priority

Significantly, job satisfaction is a priority that must be met in order to advance industries. It will change the way employees serve and improve the quality of labor. The construction industry is growing rapidly and at U.S. Bridge, we serve to meet the needs of our customers with quality steel bridge building. So, working together to achieve job satisfaction will take us one step ahead. Contact us today to get a quote.

The Importance of Bridge Building Scheduling

The Importance of Bridge Building Scheduling

Did you know that some places in the United States and around the globe impose certain restraints when it comes to bridge building? For example, Mission Bay area of San Diego does not allow bridge construction from Memorial Day to Labor Day. That is nearly three months of no construction! This poses many issues, as it restricts bridge developers to work within a specific time. Here’s why bridge building scheduling is of utmost importance.

Establishing a Bridge Construction Schedule

It can be very frustrating when a company is ready to carry on with construction to then be forced to halt for a period of time. Not only is it inconvenient, but it can also be costly. So, what can bridge developers do to avoid these moratoriums? Have an experienced project manager on the team to develop detailed schedules that consider local and national bridge construction issues and regulations.

Sequence of the Workflow

Bridge building scheduling needs to cover all aspects of the project including unexpected events. The schedule should focus on two main things: the “when” and “how” the construction will be carried out.

While the “when” is crucial in determining the timeframe of the project completion, the “how” is sometimes neglected. When there is not a complete plan for the “how,” issues arise. For instance, delivery problems, missing equipment, or incorrect staffing can slow construction. Unfortunately, this results in lower profits on the impacted jobs and harms the reputations of contractors who don’t plan for delays.

Benefits of Scheduling

It is needless to say that organization brings benefits. However, for big projects such as bridge building, scheduling has an ever bigger impact and benefits.

  • The team understands all the project details and how they need to come together
  • It prepares the team to prevent unexpected events
  • It encourages problem-solving before they happen
  • Solid scheduling identifies the most efficient and cost-effective work sequencing
  • It improves planning for labor, tools, supplies, and equipment
  • It encourages communication among all parties involved in the project
  • Developers can prepare for or prevent seasonal issues (e.g. closures, restrictions, weather)

The U.S. Bridge Building Process

U.S. Bridge follows a meticulous schedule to execute every bridge project. Additionally, we have a bridge building process that provides a smooth experience for clients. Choose to partner with us for your next steel bridge project and see it come through in a timely manner. Contact us today and we will walk you through the steps to get you started.