Highlight:
ASTM A588 Corten Steel Plate Truss
, River Canal Pedestrian Crossing Bridge
, Prefabricated Weathering Steel Footbridge
Steel Grade: |
ASTM A588 Grade A / B Corten Weathering Steel |
Surface Finish: |
Bare Weathering With Zoned Galvanizing |
Truss Type: |
Welded Steel Plate Truss, Warren Or Pratt Layout |
Deck Option: |
Anti-slip Grating, Timber Deck Or Composite Panel |
Railing System: |
Handrail, Mid Rail And Toe Board With Optional Anti-climb Mesh |
Connection: |
A325 / A490 High Strength Friction Grip Bolts |
Design Standard: |
AASHTO LRFD, AWS D1.5 |
Corrosion Zoning: |
Bare Truss Above Splash Zone, Galvanized Bearings And Buried Steel |
Erection: |
Shop Trial Assembled, Single Span Lifting |
ASTM A588 Weathering Corten Steel Plate Truss Bridge for River Canal Crossing
River and Canal Crossing Series
ASTM A588 Corten Steel Plate Truss Bridge
A prefabricated weathering steel footbridge that is erected bare on purpose. No paint system to fail, no recoating shutdown, no closure of the crossing for maintenance.
ASTM A588 Corten Steel PlateWeathering Steel Pedestrian BridgeRiver Canal CrossingPrefabricated Steel Truss
ASTM A588 weathering steel
Corten grade plate, bare finish
Long single span
Fewer piers, less dredging
Zero repaint schedule
No scaffolding, no closure
One-lift bolted erection
Match-marked, trial assembled
The brief
Why a river crossing fails
A canal or river bridge rarely fails on load. It fails on water level, navigation clearance and maintenance access. The common answer is a painted steel bridge on several intermediate piers: more piers mean more obstruction to flow, more dredging, and a closure window every few years for repainting. This bridge reverses that logic. A welded steel plate truss is fabricated from ASTM A588 Corten weathering steel, erected bare above the splash line, and left to develop its own oxide layer. The span is set from the surveyed section, design flood level and required navigation clearance, so the structure reaches across with the minimum number of supports in the water.
Build sequence
From plate to a closed crossing
1
Set the span and the soffit level
Section survey, design flood level and navigation clearance fix the span, the underside elevation and the deck profile. Shop drawings follow, including camber and connection details.
2
Fabricate the plate truss
Corten plate is CNC cut, assembled in jigs and welded to AWS D1.5. Full penetration welds are ultrasonic and magnetic particle inspected before the member leaves the bay.
3
Trial assemble the full span
Every member is match-marked, splice plates are jig-drilled and the span is trial assembled, so bolt holes and node geometry are proven before loading.
4
Erect and bolt on site
Modules arrive in container loads, are lifted as a single span and bolted with A325 / A490 high strength friction grip bolts. Site welding is not required, and the closure window is measured in hours.
Technical data
Performance and detailing
| Item |
Technical requirement |
| Material and metallurgy |
ASTM A588 Grade A / B low alloy weathering steel plate. The copper, chromium and nickel balance produces a dense, tightly adherent oxide layer under alternating wet and dry exposure. Plate is supplied bare, with mill test certificate per heat. |
| Structural form and crossing fit |
Welded steel plate truss in Warren or Pratt layout, H section or box section chords. Span, truss depth and soffit level are set from the surveyed section, design flood level and navigation clearance. Camber is preset in the shop to offset dead and live load deflection. |
| Loading and verification |
Designed for pedestrian live load and checked against wind, thermal movement, floating debris impact and seismic action for the project location. Deflection is governed by pedestrian comfort; nodes are checked for fatigue and bolt slip. |
| Deck and drainage detailing |
Anti-slip steel grating, timber deck or composite panel carried on steel stringers. Longitudinal and cross fall with low point scuppers, plus drip details at the ends, so runoff does not stain the abutment or wing walls. |
| Railing and safety construction |
Continuous protection formed by handrail, mid rail and toe board, with member gaps controlled for fall prevention. Anti-climb mesh, lockable maintenance gates and life saving equipment bases are available on the water side. |
| Corrosion zoning strategy |
Corrosion protection is zoned by exposure: dry ventilated truss members stay bare, while the splash zone, bearings and any buried or submerged steel are hot dip galvanized or coated. Bare weathering is used only where it self-drains and dries out. |
| Fabrication and inspection |
CNC cutting, jig assembly and full penetration welding to AWS D1.5, with ultrasonic and magnetic particle testing, dimensional and camber verification, and full span trial assembly to confirm hole alignment. |
| Delivery and installation |
Segments tagged and packed on steel pallets for container shipment. Site work is bolted connection and single span lifting, supported by erection drawings, bolt schedule and lifting point plan. |
Where it is used
Crossing types
River pedestrian bridgeIrrigation canal crossingDrainage channel bridgeReservoir and embankment linkWetland and waterfront boardwalkPlant intake and outfall walkwayMining and port access gangway
Scope of supply
What ships with the bridge
✓Match-marked truss segments, floor beams and bracing members
✓A325 / A490 bolt sets, nuts, washers and splice plates per node
✓Bearing pads, anchor assemblies and drainage details
✓Erection drawings, bolt schedule and lifting point plan
✓Mill test certificates, welding records and inspection reports
✓Optional decking, railing infill, access gates and life saving bases
Your decisions
What can be tailored
Corrosion zoning
Bare weathering across the span with galvanized splash zone, or a fully galvanized and painted system for industrial and effluent channels.
Deck surface
Steel grating for drainage and slip resistance, timber for park and landscape settings, composite panel for quiet pedestrian use.
Pier strategy
A full clear span with no pier in the water, or an intermediate pier to shorten the span and reduce steel weight. Both options can be priced side by side.
Access and security
Pedestrian only, shared with light maintenance vehicles, or fitted with anti-climb mesh, lockable gates and inspection platforms.
Buyer questions
Answered up front
QHow is the design flood level handled?
AThe soffit level is set from the design flood level for the required return period plus freeboard, using hydrology data supplied by your engineer. We then size the truss depth to suit that clearance.
QIs floating debris impact considered?
AYes. Drift timber, vessel and ice loading are added as a load case where relevant, and deflector plates or protective angles can be added on the upstream face.
QCan the crossing be built without a pier in the water?
AIn most canal and river crossings within our single span range it can. The trade off is steel weight against pier and foundation cost, so we price both schemes.
QWill bare weathering steel corrode faster near water?
AThe permanently wet splash zone and the tidal or drawdown band are not left bare. Those zones are galvanized or coated, while the well ventilated truss above stays bare and forms a stable patina.
QWhat maintenance does it need?
AAnnual visual inspection of members, bolts, bearings and drainage, with a bolt tension check after the first year. No repainting is scheduled in the maintenance plan.
Search terms
Related capabilities
ASTM A588 steel plate truss bridgeCorten steel footbridgeweathering steel pedestrian bridgeriver crossing steel bridgecanal crossing footbridgeprefabricated steel truss bridgebare weathering finish bridgehot dip galvanized bridge componentsbolted steel truss erectionlong span pedestrian crossing
About us
FAMOUS Steel Engineering has been designing and fabricating structural steel since 2002 from Hangzhou, China. Cutting, welding, blasting, trial assembly and inspection are handled in house, so the bridge stays under one roof from plate to shipment. Trial orders are welcome.
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