Infrastructure Components
Bridge Bearings: Custom-Manufactured Structural Support Solutions
Precision-engineered bridge bearings built to absorb thermal movement, distribute loads, and extend the service life of critical infrastructure.
What Are Bridge Bearings?
Bridge bearings are structural devices installed between a bridge superstructure and its substructure. They transfer vertical loads from the deck to the piers and abutments while accommodating rotational and translational movements caused by thermal expansion, traffic loads, seismic activity, and concrete creep.
Every bridge moves. Temperature fluctuations alone can cause a 300-foot steel span to expand or contract by several inches over a single year. Without properly engineered bridge bearings, those forces transfer directly into the substructure, cracking pier caps, buckling girders, and shortening the lifespan of the entire structure.
At C.L. Dews & Sons Foundry, we manufacture bridge bearings to exact project specifications using our in-house casting and steel fabrication capabilities — from standard elastomeric pads to complex multi-rotational pot bearings, each assembly is engineered, poured, machined, and tested under one roof.
75 yr
Target Design Life per AASHTO LRFD
10K+ Tons
Casting Capacity Per Year
100%
In-House Fabrication & QC
Types of Bridge Bearings We Manufacture
Different span lengths, load magnitudes, and movement requirements call for different bearing types. We produce the full range of fixed and expansion bearings to meet AASHTO LRFD and state DOT specifications.
Elastomeric Bearings
Laminated neoprene pads with internal steel shims. Accommodate moderate rotation and translation for short- to medium-span bridges. Cost-effective and low maintenance.
Pot Bearings
Confined elastomeric disc within a steel cylinder. Handle high vertical loads with controlled rotation. Guided or free-sliding configurations available for long spans.
Sliding Bearings
PTFE-to-stainless-steel sliding surfaces that permit large translational movements. Often paired with pot or disc bearings to create multi-directional expansion assemblies.
Rocker & Roller Bearings
Traditional steel rocker plates and roller nests for heavy-duty highway and rail bridges. Cast or fabricated to exact geometry, heat-treated for fatigue resistance.
Each bearing type can be configured as a fixed bearing (resisting translation while permitting rotation) or an expansion bearing (permitting both rotation and controlled translation). Our engineering team works with your design consultant to select the optimal configuration based on span geometry, load combinations, and anticipated movements per the AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications.
Materials & Engineering Specifications
Material selection is the foundation of bearing performance. We control every variable from alloy chemistry to final machining tolerances.
Cast Steel & Ductile Iron
ASTM A27/A148 cast steel and ASTM A536 ductile iron for base plates, sole plates, and masonry plates. Controlled pouring temperatures and heat treatment yield consistent mechanical properties.
CNC-Machined Surfaces
Bearing surfaces machined to tight flatness tolerances (typically 0.002″ across the contact face) for uniform load distribution. Our in-house CNC mills and lathes handle components up to 72″ in diameter.
Corrosion Protection
Hot-dip galvanizing per ASTM A123 or multi-coat paint systems per SSPC standards. Stainless steel sliding surfaces and PTFE sheets rated for 50+ years of service without replacement.
Load Testing & QC
Proof-load testing to 150% of design load. Full material traceability with certified mill test reports. Dimensional inspection reports accompany every shipment.
Bridge Bearing Applications
Our bridge bearings serve departments of transportation, general contractors, and engineering firms across a wide range of infrastructure projects — from interstate highways to pedestrian crossings and full bearing rehabilitation programs.
Interstate and state highway bridges
Railroad overpasses and rail bridges
Pedestrian and multi-use trail bridges
Interchange ramp and flyover structures
Bridge rehabilitation and bearing replacement
Seismic isolation bearing upgrades
Why Choose C.L. Dews & Sons Foundry
Vertically Integrated
Manufacturing
Pattern-making, casting, heat treatment, CNC machining, fabrication, and assembly all happen at our facility. This vertical integration eliminates coordination delays between vendors, shortens lead times, and gives us direct quality control over every step from molten metal to finished bearing.
DOT-Grade Quality Standards
We routinely produce bridge bearings that meet or exceed state DOT inspection requirements. Every bearing ships with complete documentation: certified material test reports, dimensional inspection records, and coating thickness measurements. Our quality program follows the FHWA bridge standards framework for structural steel and cast components.
Custom Engineering Support
No two bridge projects are identical. Our engineering team reviews your plans, recommends bearing configurations, and produces fabrication drawings for approval before production begins. Whether you need a set of standard elastomeric pads or a custom multi-rotational pot bearing assembly with guided sliding surfaces, we deliver exactly what the design calls for.
Request a Quote for Custom Bridge Bearings
Send us your project drawings and specifications. Our team will provide a detailed proposal with pricing, lead times, and engineering recommendations.
