The length availability for the various plate widths and thicknesses is a very common question engineers have when designing highway structures. Understanding the availability of plate material while performing design iterations will ensure that the material used can be sourced from at least one of the domestic steel mills and result in a better economy for the overall bridge superstructure.

View the tables below, and check out our Modern Steel Construction article Steel Plate Availability for Highway Bridges (published October 2023).

Maximum Plate Length Availability (inches) -- ASTM A709 Grade 50 & 50W

All lengths are readily available from three domestic mills.

Plate Thickness	Plate Width--Grade 50 & 50W
	72	78	84	90	96	102	108	114	120
3⁄8	1,034	1,034	1,034	1,034	1,034	1,034	1,034	1,034	1,034
½	1,034	1,034	1,034	1,034	1,034	1,034	1,034	1,034	1,034
9⁄16	1,034	1,034	1,034	1,034	1,034	1,034	1,034	1,034	1,034
5⁄8	1,034	1,034	1,034	1,034	1,034	1,034	1,034	1,034	1,034
¾	1,034	1,034	1,034	1,034	1,034	1,034	1,034	1,034	1,034
7⁄8	1,034	1,034	1,034	1,034	1,034	1,034	1,026	972	923
1	1,034	1,034	1,034	1,034	1,034	1,030	980	680	680
1¼	1,034	1,034	1,034	1,034	1,034	1,034	790	680	680
1½	1,034	1,034	1,034	1,034	1,034	1,034	720	680	680
1¾	1,034	1,034	1,034	1,034	1,034	995	720	680	680
2	1,034	1,034	1,034	1,034	1,034	930	720	680	680
2¼	1,034	1,034	980	1,034	975	865	720	680	680
2½	1,034	1,034	975	925	875	825	720	680	680
2¾	1,034	975	900	850	800	720	700	650	625
3	970	900	825	775	725	675	650	600	575

Maximum Plate Length Availability (inches) -- ASTM A709 Grade HPS 50W

All lengths are readily available from three domestic mills.

Plate Thickness	Plate Width--Grade HPS 50W
	72	78	84	90	96	102	108	114	120
3⁄8	1,224	1,224	1,224	1,224	1,224	1,224	1,224	1,224	1,224
½	1,224	1,224	1,224	1,224	1,224	1,224	1,224	1,224	1,224
9⁄16	1,224	1,224	1,224	1,224	1,224	1,224	1,224	1,224	1,224
5⁄8	1,224	1,224	1,224	1,224	1,224	1,224	1,224	1,190	1,130
¾	1,224	1,224	1,224	1,224	1,224	1,224	1,197	1,134	1,070
7⁄8	1,224	1,224	1,224	1,224	1,154	1,086	1,026	972	923
1	1,224	1,224	1,154	1,077	1,010	950	897	850	808
1¼	1,224	994	923	861	808	760	718	680	646
1½	1,077	995	924	862	808	761	718	680	646
1¾	924	852	792	739	693	652	616	583	554
2	808	746	693	646	606	570	539	510	485
2¼	718	663	616	575	539	507	479	454	431
2½	646	597	554	517	485	456	431	408	388
2¾	588	542	504	470	441	415	392	371	353
3	539	497	462	431	404	380	359	340	323

Maximum Plate Length Availability (inches) -- ASTM A709 Grade HPS 70W

All lengths are readily available from at least two domestic mills. Those with an asterisk (*) are readily available from three domestic mills.

Plate Thickness	Plate Width--Grade HPS 70W
	72	78	84	90	96	102	108	114	120
3⁄8	600	600	600	600	600	600	600	600	600
½	600	600	600	600	600	600	600	600	600
9⁄16	600	600	600	600	600	600	600	600	600
5⁄8	600	600	600	600	600	600	600	600	600
¾	600*	600*	600*	600*	600*	600*	600*	600*	600*
7⁄8	600*	600*	600*	600*	600*	600*	600*	600*	600*
1	600*	600*	600*	600*	600*	600*	600*	600*	600*
1¼	600*	600*	600*	600*	600*	600*	600*	600*	600*
1½	600*	600*	600*	600*	600*	600*	600*	600*	600*
1¾	600*	600*	600*	600*	600*	600*	600*	583*	554*
2	600*	600*	600*	600*	600*	570*	539*	510*	485*
2¼	600	600	600	575	539	507	479	454	431
2½	600	597	554	517	485	456	431	408	388
2¾	588	542	504	470	441	415	392	371	353
3	539	497	462	431	404	380	359	340	323

 

Maximum Plate Length Availability (inches) -- ASTM A709 Grade HPS 100W

All lengths are readily available from two domestic mills.

Plate Thickness	Plate Width--Grade HPS 100W
	72	78	84	90	96	102	108	114	120
3⁄8	540	540	540	540	540	540	540	540	540
½	540	540	540	540	540	540	540	540	540
9⁄16	540	540	540	540	540	540	540	540	540
5⁄8	540	540	540	540	540	540	540	540	540
¾	540	540	540	540	540	540	540	540	540
7⁄8	540	540	540	540	540	540	540	540	540
1	540	540	540	540	540	540	540	540	540
1¼	540	540	540	540	540	540	540	540	540
1½	540	540	540	540	540	540	540	540	540
1¾	540	540	540	540	540	540	540	540	540
2	540	540	540	540	540	540	540	540	540
2¼	540	540	540	540	540	540	540	540	540
2½	540	540	540	540	540	540	540	540	540
2¾	540	540	540	540	540	540	540	540	540
3	540	540	540	540	540	540	540	540	540

Wide Flange Beam Length Availability 
Structural shape sections of various sizes are produced domestically. For specific section availability, refer to aisc.org/steelavailaility.