ABSTRACT
Designers of steel railway bridge superstructures must consider fabrication constructability in order to initiate practical and cost-effective bridge designs. Effective fabrication is contingent upon design drawings and technical specifications that clearly communicate the design engineer's intent. Fabricators may be able to estimate costs for initial bids based on typical or similar fabrication projects to those shown on preliminary design drawings provided, if practicable, by the design engineer. Shop drawings serve as clearly written communication between owner, design engineer, fabricator, and quality control (QC)/quality assurance (QA) inspectors. Final fabrication cost estimates are typically based on a shop production schedule to carefully determine the material and labor quantities required to complete the fabrication in accordance with the approved shop drawings. Since the superstructure designer must determine the availability and consider the procurement lead time of various grades and sizes of steel plates and shapes early in the design process, design philosophies associated with effective material procurement need to be deliberated.
