National Steel Bridge Alliance


Prize Bridge Awards

The art of designing and building beautiful, efficient, economical and sustainable steel bridges has been practiced for more than a century. The American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) launched its Prize Bridge Competition in 1928 as a way to showcase the beauty of steel bridges.

Since the Sixth Street Bridge won the first competition in 1928, more than 300 bridges have won first place in a variety of categories, and at least an equivalent number of bridges has received a merit or honorable mention award for finishing as runner up. Overall, this competition has recognized more than 600 bridges of all sizes from all across the United States.

Today's competition recognizes bridges on a biennial basis, with winners receiving recognition during the North American Steel Construction Conference/World Steel Bridge Symposium. Keeping with tradition, bridges are eligible for the competition based on the date they first opened to traffic.

The 2022 Prize Bridge Award Competition will open in May 2021. Eligible bridges must be built of structural steel, located in the U.S., defined as the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and all U.S. territories; and completed and opened to traffic between after January 2018.

Congratulations to the 2020 Prize Bridge Award Winners

The American Institute of Steel Construction and the National Steel Bridge Alliance are proud to announce the winners of the 2020 Prize Bridge Awards.

Since Pittsburgh's Sixth Street Bridge won the first competition in 1928, more than 600 bridges of all sizes from all across the United States have received a Prize Bridge Award. Some of those bridges, such as the Wabash Railroad bridge in Wayne County, Mich., which won a prize in 1941 and still carries railroad traffic more than 70 years later, have actually outlasted the companies that built them.

"These projects are tributes to the creativity of the designers and the skills of the constructors who collaborated to make them reality," said AISC President Charles J. Carter, SE, PE, PhD. "Steel shines and soars on their talents and we celebrate the accomplishments these projects represent."

AISC and NSBA would like to thank the 2020 Prize Bridge Award judges for their time and enthusiasm:

  • Richard Marchione, deputy chief engineer (ret), New York Department of Transportation

  • Shane W.R. Kuhlman, state bridge engineer, New Mexico Department of Transportation Bridge Bureau

  • Frank Russo, vice president and technical director, bridge engineering, Michael Baker International

  • Rob Richardson, west region bridge leader, associate vice president, HDR

  • Dennis Golabek, GEC-FDOT Structures Design office, WSP

These dedicated judges considered every entry’s merits in terms of innovation, economics, aesthetics, design, and engineering solutions.

SHORT SPAN

 

NATIONAL: VINE STREET EXPRESSWAY (I-676) RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT - 18TH TO 22ND STREETS
PHILADELPHIA

Project Team

  • Steel fabricator and detailer: High Steel Structures LLC, Lancaster, Pa. *AISC MEMBER* *AISC CERTIFIED*

  • Engineer: Pennoni, Philadelphia

  • General contractor: Buckley & Company, Inc., Philadelphia

  • Owner: Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Harrisburg, Pa.

 

(Photo credit: John Baer Building Images Photography)

MERIT: ANCHOR BAY DRIVE
ST. CLAIR COUNTY, MICH.

Project Team

  • Steel fabricator and detailer: Valmont Structures, Valley, Neb. *AISC CERTIFIED*

  • Steel erector, general contractor, and owner: St. Clair County Road Commission, St. Clair, Mich.

  • Engineer: TEG Engineering, Wyoming, Mich.

 

(Photo credit: TEG Engineering)

 

MEDIUM SPAN

 

NATIONAL: GRAND AVENUE BRIDGE
GLENWOOD SPRINGS, COLO.

Project Team

  • Steel fabricator: W&W | AFCO Steel, San Angelo, Texas *AISC MEMBER* *AISC CERTIFIED*

  • Steel erector: Pioneer Steel Inc., New Castle, Co. *AISC CERTIFIED*

  • Steel detailer: abs Structural, Melbourne, Fla. *AISC MEMBER*

  • Engineer: RS&H, Inc., Greenwood Village, Co.

  • General contractor: Granite/RLW Joint Venture, Glenwood Springs, Co.

  • Owner: Colorado Department of Transportation - Region 3, Grand Junction, Co.

 

(Photo credit: Davis Deaton)

MERIT: WILLIAMS CREEK (SHOUP) BRIDGE
SALMON, IDAHO

Project Team

  • Steel fabricator: Thompson Metal Fab, Inc., Vancouver, Wash. *AISC MEMBER* *AISC CERTIFIED*

  • Engineer: WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff, Portland, Ore.

  • General contractor: RSCI Group, Boise, Idaho

  • Owners: 

    • U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration, Vancouver, Wash.

    • Lemhi County, Salmon, Idaho

 

(Photo credit: Don Perkins)

 

LONG SPAN

 

NATIONAL: MANNING CREVICE BRIDGE
RIGGINS, IDAHO

Project Team

  • Steel fabricator: Rule Steel, Caldwell, Idaho *AISC MEMBER* *AISC CERTIFIED*

  • Steel erector: Donahue McNamara Steel, Hailey, Idaho *AISC CERTIFIED*

  • Steel detailer: abs Structural, Melbourne, Fla. *AISC MEMBER*

  • Engineers:

    • Atkins, Denver (structural design and project management)

    • Horrocks Engineers, Meridian, Idaho (CM/GC advisor and roadway design)

    • Shannon & Wilson, Denver (geotechnical design)

  • General contractor and construction manager: RSCI Group, Boise, Idaho

  • Owners: 

    • U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration, Vancouver, Wash.

    • Idaho Transportation Department, Boise, Idaho

    • Idaho County, Grangeville, Idaho

 

(Photo credit: Ken Saindon)

MERIT: PFEIFFER CANYON BRIDGE
BIG SUR, CALIF.

Project Team

  • Steel fabricator: XKT Engineering Inc., Vallejo, Calif. *AISC Certified*

  • Engineer: Caltrans Structure Design, Sacramento, Calif.

  • General contractor and steel erector: Golden State Bridge, Benicia, Calif. *AISC Member*

  • Owner: Caltrans District 5, San Luis Obispo, Calif.

 

(Photo credit: Caltrans)

 

MAJOR SPAN

 

NATIONAL: GOVERNOR MARIO M. CUOMO BRIDGE
WESTCHESTER-ROCKLAND COUNTIES, N.Y.

Project Team

  • Steel fabricators:

    • High Steel Structures LLC, Lancaster, Pa. (approach unit superstructure) *AISC MEMBER* *AISC CERTIFIED*

    • W&W | AFCO Steel, Greensboro, N.C. (approach unit superstructure) *AISC MEMBER* *AISC CERTIFIED*

    • Canam-Bridges, Point of Rocks, Md. (main span superstructure) *AISC MEMBER*

    • L&M Fabrication & Machine, Inc., Bath, Pa. (main span superstructure) *AISC MEMBER* *AISC CERTIFIED*

  • Design/builder: Tappan Zee Constructors, LLC, a joint venture of:

    • Fluor

    • American Bridge Company *AISC MEMBER* *AISC CERTIFIED*

    • Granite Construction Northeast

    • Traylor Bros., Inc. *AISC MEMBER*

  • Steel detailers:

    • Tenca Steel Detailing, Inc., Quebec City *AISC MEMBER*

    • High Steel Structures LLC, Lancaster, Pa. *AISC MEMBER* *AISC CERTIFIED*

    • W&W | AFCO Steel, Greensboro, N.C. *AISC MEMBER* *AISC CERTIFIED*

  • Engineer: HDR, New York

  • Owner: New York State Thruway Authority, Albany, N.Y.

 

(Photo credit: New York State Thruway Authority)

MERIT: BROADWAY BRIDGE OVER THE ARKANSAS RIVER
LITTLE ROCK/NORTH LITTLE ROCK, ARK.

Project Team

  • Steel fabricators:

    • Veritas Steel, Palatka, Fla. *AISC MEMBER* * AISC CERTIFIED*

    • W&W | AFCO Steel, Little Rock, Ark. *AISC MEMBER* *AISC CERTIFIED*

    • Delong’s, Inc., Jefferson City, Mo. *AISC MEMBER* *AISC CERTIFIED*

  • Steel detailers:

    • Tensor Engineering, Indian Harbour Beach, Fla. (arch spans) *AISC MEMBER*

    • ABS Structural, Melbourne, Fla. (north approach) *AISC member*

  • Engineers: 

    • HNTB, Kansas City, Mo.

    • Garver, North Little Rock, Ark.

  • Prime contractor: Massman Construction Co., Overland Park, Ks.

  • Owner: Arkansas Department of Transportation, Little Rock, Ark.

 

(Photo credit: Trey Cambern)

MERIT: PORTAGEVILLE BRIDGE REPLACEMENT
PORTAGEVILLE, N.Y.

Project Team

  • Steel fabricators:

    • Canam-Bridges, Point of Rocks, Md. (arch bridge) *AISC MEMBER*

    • Veritas Steel, LLC (approach deck girder steel spans) *AISC MEMBER*

  • Steel detailer: DBM Vircon Services *AISC MEMBER*

  • Steel erector and general contractor: American Bridge Company, Coraopolis, Pa. *AISC MEMBER* *AISC CERTIFIED*

  • Engineer: Modjeski and Masters, Mechanicsburg, Pa.

  • Owner: Norfolk Southern Corporation, Atlanta

 

(Photo credit: John Kucko)

MOVABLE SPAN

 

NATIONAL: SARAH MILDRED LONG BRIDGE
BETWEEN KITTERY, MAINE AND PORTSMOUTH, N.H.

Project Team

  • Fabricator: Casco Bay Steel Structures, Inc., South Portland, Maine *AISC MEMBER* *AISC CERTIFIED*

  • Steel erector and general contractor: Cianbro, Pittsfield, Maine *AISC MEMBER* *AISC CERTIFIED*

  • Steel detailer: Tensor Engineering, Indian Harbour Beach, Fla. *AISC MEMBER*

  • Owners:

    • Maine Department of Transportation, Augusta, Maine

    • New Hampshire Department of Transportation, Concord, N.H.

  • Engineer: Hardesty & Hanover, LLC, New York 

 

(Photo credit: Maine DOT)

MERIT: BAYOU SARA SWING BRIDGE
MOBILE COUNTY, ALA.

Project Team

  • Steel fabricator and detailer: Steward Machine Co., Inc., Birmingham, Ala. *AISC MEMBER* *AISC CERTIFIED*

  • Steel erector and general contractor: Brasfield & Gorrie, Birmingham, Ala.

  • Engineer: HDR, Newark, N.J.

  • Owner: CSX Corporation, Jacksonville, Fla.

 

(Photo credit: HDR)

 

SPECIAL PURPOSE

 

NATIONAL: FRANCES APPLETON PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE
BOSTON

Project Team

  • Steel fabricator and detailer: Newport Industrial Fabrication, Newport, Maine *AISC MEMBER* *AISC CERTIFIED*

  • Steel erector: Saugus Construction Corp., Georgetown, Mass. *AISC Member* *AISC Certified*

  • General contractor: White/Skanska/Consigli, JV, Framingham, Mass.

  • Steel castings: Cast Connex, Toronto *AISC MEMBER*

  • Bender-roller: Kottler Metal Products, Willoughby, Ohio *AISC Member

  • Engineer of record: STV, Boston

  • Designer: Rosales + Partners, Boston

  • Owner: Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, Boston

 

(Photo credit: Juan Navarro)

MERIT: EAST SHORE BRIDGE
LAKE TAHOE, NEV.

Project Team

  • Fabricators:

    • Stinger Bridge & Iron, Coolidge, Ariz. (structural steel for substructure elements) *AISC MEMBER* *AISC CERTIFIED*

    • Cox Brothers Machining, Inc., Jackson, Mich. (steel stringers and diaphragms) *AISC MEMBER* *AISC CERTIFIED*

  • Erector and general contractor: Granite Construction Inc., Sparks, Nev.

  • Engineer: Jacobs, Sacramento, Calif.

  • Owner: Nevada Department of Transportation, Carson City, Nev.

 

(Photo credit: Mike Okimoto)

MERIT: 41ST STREET PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE
CHICAGO

Project Team

  • Steel fabricator: Hillsdale Fabricators, St. Louis *AISC MEMBER* *AISC CERTIFIED*

  • Steel pipe bender and additional fabricator: BendTec Inc., Duluth, Minn. *AISC MEMBER* *AISC CERTIFIED*

  • Handrail fabricator: Metal Pros, LLC, Wichita, Kan. *AISC MEMBER* *AISC CERTIFIED*

  • Bridge detailer: Esskay Structures, Inc., Vienna, Va. *AISC MEMBER*

  • Steel erector: S&J Construction Co., Inc., Oak Forest, Ill. *AISC MEMBER* *AISC CERTIFIED*

  • Designer/engineer of record: AECOM, Chicago

  • General contractor: F.H. Paschen, S.N. Nielsen & Associates LLC, Chicago

  • Construction manager: TranSystems, Chicago

  • Owner: Chicago Department of Transportation, Chicago

 

(Photo credit: Chicago DOT)

 

REHAB

 

NATIONAL: ANDY WARHOL (SEVENTH STREET) BRIDGE
PITTSBURGH

Project Team

  • Steel fabricator and erector: Advantage Steel and Construction, Saxonburg, Pa. *AISC CERTIFIED*

  • Engineer: Michael Baker International, Moon Township, Pa.

  • General contractor: Brayman Construction, Saxonburg, Pa. *AISC MEMBER*

  • Owner: Allegheny County Department of Public Works, Pittsburgh

 

(Photo credit: David Briskey)

MERIT: WINONA BRIDGE
WINONA, MINN.

Project Team

  • Steel fabricator and detailer: LeJeune Steel Company, Minneapolis *AISC MEMBER* *AISC CERTIFIED*

  • Additional steel detailer: DBM Vircon Services *AISC MEMBER*

  • Steel erector: Danny’s Construction Company, Shakopee, Minn. *AISC MEMBER* *AISC CERTIFIED*

  • Engineer: Michael Baker International, Chicago

  • General contractor: Ames Construction, Burnsville, Minn.

  • Owner: Minnesota Department of Transportation, Rochester, Minn.

 

(Photo credit: Kent Zinn)

 

RECONSTRUCTION

 

NATIONAL: BNSF WIND RIVER BRIDGE
SKAMANIA COUNTY, WASH.

Project Team

  • Steel fabricator: Fought & Company, Inc., Tigard, Ore. *AISC MEMBER* *AISC CERTIFIED*

  • Steel detailer: Graphics for Steel Structures, Hicksville, N.Y. *AISC MEMBER*

  • Engineer: HNTB, St. Louis

  • General contractor: Hamilton Construction Company, Portland, Ore.

  • Owner: BNSF Railway, Kansas City, Kansas

 

(Photo credit: Jeff Jobe)

MERIT: I-240 MEMFIX4
MEMPHIS, TENN.

Project Team

  • Steel detailer and fabricator: W&W | AFCO Steel, Little Rock, Ark. *AISC MEMBER* *AISC CERTIFIED*

  • Additional detailer: CRC Steel Detailing LLC, Fort Worth, Texas *AISC MEMBER*

  • Steel erector and general contractor: Kiewit Infrastructure Co., Brentwood, Tenn.

  • Engineer: Benesch, Nashville, Tenn.

  • Owner: Tennessee Department of Transportation, Nashville, Tenn.

 

(Photo credit: Kiewit Infrastructure South Co.)

 

SPECIAL AWARD FOR RESILIENCE

LIBERTY BRIDGE, PITTSBURGH

The judges also elected to recognize Pittsburgh’s Liberty Bridge with a special award for resilience. This bridge, which was originally built in 1928, demonstrated the superior resilience of structural steel with a remarkable recovery from an accidental construction fire.

Project Team

  • Fabricators:

    • L.B. Foster Company, Pittsburgh *AISC CERTIFIED*

    • Hall Industries, Inc., Ellwood City, Pa. *AISC MEMBER* *AISC CERTIFIED*

  • Engineer: HDR, Pittsburgh

  • GC: Fay, an i+iconUSA Company, Pittsburgh

  • Owner: PennDOT, Engineering District 11, Bridgeville, Pa.

 

(Photo credit: Christine Shiring)

 

Judges weighed each project's use of structural steel from both an architectural and structural engineering perspective, with an emphasis on creative solutions to the project's program requirements; applications of innovative design approaches in areas such as connections, gravity systems, lateral load resisting systems, fire and/or blast protection; aesthetic and visual impact of the project; innovative use of architecturally exposed structural steel (AESS); technical or architectural advances in the use of the steel; and/or the use of innovative design and construction methods.

For more information about the Prize Bridge Awards and the winning projects, please visit aisc.org/prizebridge. High-resolution photos of the winning projects are available for download here. Please contact AISC's Dani Friedland at friedland@aisc.org or 312.670.5439 for additional photos of any of the winning projects.