Services
Paragon Bridge Works continues to expand the services we offer and and broaden the geographic service areas. The following is a sample of the many services Paragon offers but we are always open to new opportunities and never shy away from challenges.
Consultation Services
Engineering Services
Conceptual Modeling Services
Installation Services
Consultation Services
This service was created in order to provide an on-site visit. Paragon can give you our recommendations based on years of experience which will save you time and money. Here are a few reasons why you may want to consider Paragon's consultation services:
- Conceptual stage: This is a good solution if you are not sure if a bridge is the way to go or not. Maybe you are concerned with your site or with obstacles and want a professional opinion. Maybe you want to bounce your ideas off of somebody. Paragon is here to help you in any way we can.
With this service you get one of our employees at your site for an average of 3 to 6 hours. We typically try to get our employee to your site and back home the same day. Additional time can be arranged if needed.
- Site selection: This is a good solution if you have some wiggle room as to where to place your bridge. You might have 2 or 3 different bridge locations that could work but are not sure which one is best. We can provide you with various pros and cons with your bridge site selections and can recommend alternate sites that we might feel could save you time and money.
With this service you get one of our employees at your site for an average of 3 to 6 hours.
- Site measuring: So you have a pretty good idea of where you want your bridge to be built but you don't have a site civil engineer or a survey of your site. You also want to get a better idea of what your new bridge will look like before any dirt is moved or anything is ordered. Paragon can measure your site and provide you with 3D model, in both picture format and video format, that will show you exactly what your bridge will look like on your site. Paragon takes detailed measurements every 3 linear feet along with detailed elevations which allows us to properly size a bridge to your site. Please keep in mind Paragon does not offer surveying services but site profile measuring services. Although Paragon utilizes the same type of equipment a professional surveyor does, Paragon is not a surveyor.
The benefits are amazing. Feel free to ask for a sample of what you will get. Some people need to see in order to believe.
With this service you get two of Paragon's employees to your site to measure. It typically takes about 4 hours to measure a site then another 4 hours plugging your site information into our computer model then another 10 hours sizing a bridge to your site then another 4 hours providing you with various bridge options in 3D format (pictures and video) which are e-mailed to you.
The down side to this service is that other bridge manufacturers and general contractors may not accept our measurements, mostly because Paragon is not a licensed surveyor. Paragon recommends that you hire a local surveyor if you are unsure.
- During construction: This option is great if you own a construction company and think you are capable of building your own bridge but would like the assurance of having one of our bridge building professionals on site to bounce ideas off of and gain the knowledge of years of bridge building can only provide. You get to choose which day Paragon arrives. Paragon's typical on-site time is anywhere from 3 to 6 hours. Paragon is usually called out before the abutments are poured/set, after the abutments are poured/set, and when the bridge is being set. You can have Paragon out as often as you like.
With this service you get one of Paragon's employees at your site for 3 to 6 hours for a single day. Additional days can be purchased as well.
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Engineering Services
The engineering services Paragon Bridge Works offers has allowed us to break into markets that were not open to our type of bridge building before. Here is a sample of Paragon can do for you:
- Standard signed/stamped prints: Paragon can provide engineering prints signed by our engineers licensed in over 30 states. In order to keep cost low, Paragon offers a standard bridge package. This package includes the bridge itself along with common abutment types.
With this service you get signed/sealed prints delivered via FedEx. Limited by the number of states our structural engineers are licensed in. Does not include any custom features or modifications.
- Custom bridge alterations: This is needed if our standard prints will not work for your site, typically because of soils or other site driven changes. We try to start with a standard plan and make necessary changes and charge you on an hourly bases. This method is considerably more cost effective than starting from scratch.
- New steel bridge designs: Paragon understands that our standard sizes of bridge spans does not fit every need which is why we can custom design a new steel bridge for you. You would send Paragon some type of conceptual drawing which Paragon will enter into our computer and generate a conceptual model. Once we have nailed down the conceptual Paragon's engineers will make it work.
The next step is very unique to Paragon as we DO NOT sell you the bridge but only the bridge plans. Think about that for a moment. Why have a company hundreds of miles away build your bridge when you can just as easily get a local steel fabrication shop build it for you with steel you purchase locally. No need to pay Paragon's mark-up on steel, no need to pay to transport your bridge hundreds of miles, and you get a custom bridge designed to meet your exact needs.
- Reverse engineering: So you already have a railcar that has been converted into a bridge and you have probably already installed the bridge and may be using it right now. But the city or county will not give you a permit until you can prove to them that it can support a specific weight. Now what do you do? You can call Paragon Bridge Works! We will make a site visit, measure and model your bridge (or railcar), and provide you with our results. We can offer a signed letter with our findings, which is more cost effective than providing full blown prints. Or, we can provide you with full blown prints and structural calculations if needed (calculations do add a higher cost). Keep in mind that we can only inspect what we can see so you will probably need to dig out around the bridge in order to give us access to inspect and measure. Also keep in mind that we can not guarantee that your bridge will be able to support your desire load. But even then we can let you know if there is anything you (or Paragon) can do to your bridge in order to meet your desired load rating. Sometimes adding a plate here or an I-beam there can make a huge difference.
Paragon can only evaluate your abutments if you have specific details on how your abutments were built. There are usually some modifications or alterations that are necessary in order to make your bridge meet AASHTO rules.
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Conceptual Modeling Services
With the aide of Paragon's broad range of bridge building experience along with Paragon's technological superiority, we can make your dreams a virtual reality. Paragon has worked with professional and amateur artists all over the country to make conceptual bridge drawings sent in picture and video format via e-mail. The first 4 hours of design work are on us! This will at least give you an idea of what Paragon can do for you.
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Bridge Installation Services
Paragon Bridge Works offers a broad range of installation services designed to fit most budgets. Let us know if you need something different but here is our typical offerings:
- Limited installation: Installation is used very loosely here as you are basically paying Paragon to through your bridge in place. This option was developed for farmers, ranchers, and oil field exploration outfits. Its quick and cheap as we typically set the bridge directly on the dirt. Very little time is spend "fine tuning" the placement of the bridge. We've got about 2 hours on site to make it happen so things move quick.
Paragon offers this service in a limited area and for limited applications so please call a Paragon Bridge Works representative to see if this option is available for your desired application.
- Half installation: This is an excellent option for general contractors as you get a lot of value. You build your own abutments utilizing either Paragon's pre-cast abutment blocks or a poured in place abutment, designed by Paragon or your own PE's design. Paragon's abutment designs were created for ease of construction with a simple flat top design, no need for embedded bolts or plates. Paragon has made this very simple. Once you have your abutments done Paragon comes in and sets and secures the bridge. Paragon will drill and insert concrete anchor bolts ourselves. Paragon will manage all equipment necessary to set bridge on your abutments.
Paragon offers this service in most parts of the US.
- Full installation: This is the most common installation service Paragon provides. One company undertakes the entire bridge building process. Paragon excavates and builds abutments. Paragon sets and secures bridge in place. Paragon ensures your complete satisfaction before we pull off of the job.
Paragon provides this services in most areas throughout the US except those where a local contractors license is required.
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What else can Paragon do for you? We have the right people, the right prices, and the right attitude to provide you with a broad range of services.
