Valmont is excited to share the below press release, published by Lancaster County Engineer, announcing the opening of bridge W50, the first press-brake-formed tub girder (PBFTG) system in the State of Nebraska.

For more information on the Valmont U-Beam™ click here





Lincoln, NE –May 02, 2023 – County Engineer Announces the Opening of Bridge W50 in Southwest Lancaster County. W50 is located on SW 29th Street, between W Stagecoach Road and W Panama Road. The roadway was opened on  May 01, 2023.

This project removed a 40' single-span I -Beam bridge built in June of 1962, for $ 10,100.00. This bridge was critically damaged in the floods of 2019 and has been closed since March of 2019.  Required Scour Critical inspections determined that the old bridge's abutments were no longer stable at that time.  It was replaced with a 39' Single Span PBFTG (Press Brake Formed Tub Girder) bridge for approximately $728,223.

This innovative bridge system was manufactured by Valmont Industries, which is headquared in Nebraska. This is the first Press-brake-formed tub girder (PBFTG) system in Lancaster County and is the first county bridge in Nebraska, making it a significant milestone for Lancaster County.  In addition, this bridge received County Bridge Match Program Funds from the Nebraska Transportation Innovation Act through our partners in infrastructure at the Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT).

Press-brake-formed tub girder (PBFTG) systems represent a cutting-edge approach to bridge construction that offers numerous advantages over traditional girder systems. For example, these systems use steel more efficiently and are easier to fabricate, resulting in a lighter weight and more cost-effective structure.

County Engineer Pam Dingman stated, "We are very excited to have the opportunity to use this innovative technology from Valmont Industries on Bridge W50. The press-brake-formed tub girder systems have been a key part of W50's design, and we believe they will provide a high-quality structure with a very long life for this bridge.  In addition, we are excited to have this technology as one more tool in the tool box and look forward to building more bridges with this technology."

Bridge W50 was designed by Felsburg Holt & Ullevig and was constructed by JJK Construction. This involved using specialized equipment and highly skilled workers. The girders were lifted into place using cranes and carefully aligned to ensure proper fit and function in less than 90 minutes.

Engineer Dingman stated, "We are extremely proud of the design and construction teams and their work on this project. Press-brake-formed tub girder systems are just one example of the innovative approaches we are taking to meet the needs of Lancaster County Citizens and build better infrastructure for our communities for years to come."