December 18, 2025 1:00 pm
Michael Culmo, P.E.
Chief Bridge Engineer
CHA Consulting, Inc.
Presentation begins: 06:34
Q&A begins: 40:20
Documents:
December Presentation Slides - Deck Beams
Intro & News Slides - December 2025
PCINE Deck Beams Guide 2025_12_15
December Webinar Questions & Responses
Description:
Prestressed concrete deck beams are bridge elements that directly support the truck wheel loads without a concrete deck or topping slab. Historically, these have taken the form of adjacent slabs and box beams connected with grouted keys and transverse tie rods or cables. Traditionally, the performance of deck beams has been problematic. In an effort to improve on past practice, the PCI Northeast Bridge Technical Committee has developed a new deck beam system that is significantly more robust than previous systems, with a goal to eliminate the problems of the past. The webinar will focus on the development of the new system and the details to achieve improved durability in deck beam bridges.
Presenters:
Michael Culmo, P.E.
Chief Bridge Engineer
CHA Consulting, Inc.
mculmo@chasolutions.com
Mike Culmo is a Bridge Engineer with 42 years of experience in bridge and highway design. He has extensive experience in the design of steel, concrete, and prestressed/precast concrete bridges, and has been responsible for managing teams on new expressway bridges, highway interchanges, and bridge rehabilitation projects. He is the author of numerous national publications and manuals on bridges and was principal author of the 2018 AASHTO LRFD Guide Specifications for ABC. Mr. Culmo holds a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering and a master’s degree in Structural Engineering, both from the University of Connecticut.
Presentation Photos/Graphics:
1) Fabricated Deck Beam
2) Sample Project 1
3) Sample Project 2
4) PCINE Guide Details Cover Sheet