PB100 Semi-permanent Bailey Bridge

The PB100 semi-permanent bailey bridge is a lightweight model within our PB series-the "100" denotes its load-bearing class-but its true standout feature is its service life. We designed it specifically for crossings intended for long-term use (a decade or more), rather than short-term applications lasting only a few months. Building upon the modular Bailey truss system, it incorporates the materials, surface treatments, and design details essential for long-term outdoor service: a thicker galvanized coating, superior weather-resistant sealing, and fixed abutment configurations comparable to those found in permanent steel bridges.

The PB100 semi-permanent Bailey bridge has a design service life of 10–20 years, provided that routine inspections are carried out.

Duplex coating (galvanizing + polyurethane) resists weather and road-deicing salts.

Concrete abutments and fixed bearings give a permanent-bridge feel.

Accepts asphalt or concrete wearing surface for a smooth road.

Standard bailey panel format keeps spare parts and maintenance simple.

Optional pedestrian sidewalk, crash barriers, and lighting for public use.

The PB100 semi-permanent bailey bridge is a simply supported, continuous-truss structure erected on permanent concrete abutments-a feature that distinguishes it from disposable, temporary bridges. Vehicle loads are transferred from the bridge deck to steel stringers and cross-girders, ultimately converging on the longitudinal trusses positioned on either side. A Pratt-style web system converts these loads into axial forces within the chord members; the reinforced chords are, in turn, capable of resisting the bending moments that develop at the mid-span of such long-span structures.
Lateral bracing and wind-resistant tie rods ensure the structural stability of the bridge, preventing torsional deformation caused by crosswinds or eccentric loading. During construction, the bridge can be installed using a launching method-utilizing a launching nose-or, where site conditions permit, lifted into place as a complete span by a crane. Fixed and guided bearings are installed at the abutments to accommodate the thermal expansion and contraction of the steel structure resulting from seasonal temperature fluctuations. Once the permanent infrastructure project is complete, the superstructure can be dismantled and relocated for reuse elsewhere; it is not a single-use consumable, but rather a reusable asset.

The PB100 semi-permanent bailey bridge is the semi-permanent model, so customization centers on a 10–20 year service life and a permanent-bridge feel. Panels are standard 3.048 m × 1.45 m bailey with reinforced chords, deck 3.5 m single lane or 5.0 m with a sidewalk, and span 12 m to 48 m. Finish is the duplex system - galvanizing plus an epoxy polyurethane topcoat in your RAL color - and we can add a concrete sidewalk, crash barriers and lighting for public use. Bearings are fixed and guided rocker types on concrete abutments, so the ends read like a real structure. Give us the load class, the abutment detail and the crossing length and we'll return a kit built to weather outdoors for years. 

The PB100 semi-permanent bailey bridge is a simply supported through-truss resting on permanent concrete abutments, built from standard 3.048 m × 1.45 m panels with reinforced chords. A vehicle's load leaves the wearing surface, runs through the steel stringers and floor beams, and lands in the twin longitudinal trusses. The Pratt web system resolves that load into axial chord forces, and the reinforced chords carry the midspan moment that builds over a long single span. Sway bracing and wind ties keep the structure steady laterally, and fixed and guided bearings at each abutment take up thermal expansion through the seasons. The deck is steel deck plates with an optional asphalt wearing course. 

The PB100 is frequently used for long-term urban detours during road reconstruction, as well as for crossings over small rivers and streams in rural areas. They serve as pedestrian or vehicular bridges in parks, near reservoirs, and within recreational zones; they are also a preferred choice for mines, quarries, and various industrial sites that require a bridge with a service life of 10 years or more. In the wake of bridge destruction caused by floods or earthquakes, these structures can serve as both emergency and permanent replacements.