Bridges are an essential part of the infrastructure of any city. And if you check, most of the iconic, bridges are built using steel. Railway bridges, foot bridges and medium span highway bridges are mostly built using steel. Engineers, contractors, and designers prefer using steel for constructing bridges. It is an ideal choice because of its constructability, economic viability, and sustainability. Structural steel fabricators produce various steel sections off site and then assemble them on site. So, steel is a major component in the construction of bridges.
Economic Viability
From an economic point of view, steel is a smart choice for constructing bridges. It is inexpensive and easily available. It is not as expensive as other metals used for fabrication and is available in the market in various certified grades. Pre fabrication of steelwork in shop floors and factories leads to high-quality work at the minimum cost. Steel is tensile, which means it has a high strength to weight ratio. Minimum self-weight means reduced transportation costs.
Usually, the longer a project takes to finish, the higher is the overall cost. But in the case of structural steel products, they are manufactured offsite. This saves a lot of time thereby reducing the overall cost. Apart from that steel is highly durable and flexible. It can withstand heavy loads over a long period of time.
Environment friendly
Companies spend a fortune to dispose of waste. In projects involving steel structures, there is minimum waste generated during the manufacturing process and even at the construction site. Steel is considered to be an environment-friendly option. Steel is the most recycled construction material. So when it is chosen for building bridges, it represents a sustainable management of natural resources.
Structural steel fabricators at Northern Weldarc produce steel sections for clients across the industry. They too mostly prefer using steel for all their fabrication projects.
Social Impact
Structural steel is a relatively safer option as it is lightweight. Most steel sections are manufactured offsite, which means, there is a minimum disturbance to the local communities at the site. Off site manufacturing of steel sections also contributes to the safety aspect of the project. It is always safer to work within factory conditions to avoid accidents.
Steel is versatile as it has a high constructability characteristic. It can be made to look light or solid and can be fabricated to any form or shape. Steel enables you to pay attention to detail. Steel structures are, therefore, more aesthetically appealing.
In present times, it is hard to construct a bridge without the use of steel sections. Steel is an important component for constructing bridges. If you want to know more about the services and products we offer at Northern Weldarc, just get in touch with us!
