CHICAGO – Officials want to add a bridge over the Skunk River Water Trail to better connect the park’s walking trails without disturbing a mid-river haven for wildlife, and they’ve turned to students at colleges and universities to make it happen!
The situation is hypothetical, but the ingenuity and skill are real. The American Institute of Steel Construction and the American Society of Civil Engineers have released the rules for this year’s Student Steel Bridge Competition, which gives the next generation of structural and civil engineers a challenge like this one every year.
To solve it, they must design a bridge, analyze and optimize their design, then fabricate it in steel so it can be constructed and tested in real life. They’ll go head-to-head with other teams at 20 regional competitions in spring 2025; the top contenders will meet at Iowa State University for the national finals May 30-31, 2025.
“Every single year, students tell us that it was the best part of their college experience, and many go on to design bridges as practicing engineers!” said AISC Senior Director of Education Christina Harber, SE, PE. “The Student Steel Bridge Competition is one of our flagship programs–and frankly, a personal favorite for a lot of the staff, many of whom participated when they were students.”
The University of Florida currently holds the crown after taking the top prize at the 2024 National Finals–for the fourth year in a row. Photos from last year’s Finals are available here, and a video about the program and why it matters is here.
The 2025 Challenge
The Skunk River Water Trail winds lazily through a peaceful corner of Story County, Iowa. It’s a popular spot for paddlers to enjoy a day on the water, admiring the wildflowers, aquatic wildlife, and birds like Eastern Bluebirds and Wood Ducks.
The River Trail is part of Peterson Park, and officials want to add a bridge over the River Trail to better connect the park’s walking trails. This won’t be the first bridge over the Skunk River; the remains of abutments on its shores tell the story of a long history of human activity. Local Native Americans used it as a hunting and fishing ground; more recently, it has powered a mill.
This will, however, be the first bridge designed to enhance its surroundings, with particular emphasis on protecting the local flora and fauna.
Officials have chosen a site with a sandbar that forms an island in the middle of (and parallel to) the river. The island, which is a haven for local wildlife, is strictly off-limits for people or construction. Skunk County Conservation will, however, allow barges in the river during construction (at added cost).
Story County Conservation requests that designers use steel to take full advantage of the material’s design versatility, ease of prefabrication, ability to rapidly erect, superior strength-to-weight ratio, durability, and high level of recycled content.