Foundations and piles
Driven H-pile, pipe pile and drilled shafts with test piles, splices and load testing allowances
LF / EAFoundation plan and boring logs
Bridges and structures
Bridge estimating that prices access, falsework and pour sequence as well as the concrete
A bridge is cheap to describe and expensive to build. The concrete and steel quantities are only part of the number; the rest sits in cofferdams, crane pads, falsework, night closures and the pour sequence that governs the schedule. LEEDS estimators measure every footing, column, girder and deck element from structure plans and then price the means and methods your crews will need to build over water, traffic or rail.
4.9/5 from 180+ contractors
- 5.0 Google
- 4.9 Trustpilot
- 4.9 Clutch
AASHTO LRFD plans Falsework and cofferdams Girder and deck takeoffs Delivered in 24–48 hours
5,000+Projects estimated
24–48hTypical turnaround
40+Trade categories
98%Takeoff accuracy
Overview
From abutment to barrier rail
Bridge estimating breaks a structure into substructure, superstructure and approach elements.
Substructure covers drilled shafts or driven piles, footings, abutments, columns and caps, quantified as concrete in cubic yards, reinforcing in pounds and formwork in square feet. Superstructure covers girders, diaphragms, bearings, the deck slab, overlays, expansion joints and traffic barrier. Each element is measured against the structure plans and the DOT pay item it will be billed under. Each element carries its own sheet reference. The result is a schedule your estimator can price quickly.
The means and methods are what separate a competitive bid from a loss. Work over water needs cofferdams or temporary trestles, work over traffic needs overhead protection and staged closures, and long spans need crane pads, shoring towers or launching equipment. We price each of these from the site constraints and the construction sequence shown on the plans, rather than assuming open access. Crane selection is part of that analysis, since pick weights, radius and ground bearing at the pad decide whether a single crane or a tandem lift is needed, and the answer changes the erection price for every girder line.
Design requirements from AASHTO LRFD drive material selections such as epoxy-coated or galvanized bars, prestressing strand grades, high-performance concrete and bearing types. We capture them from the plan notes and general notes so nothing is priced as standard when the specification calls for something more expensive. Because bridge bids often compare to the owner's engineer's estimate, we line up our quantities with the pay item list and point out where plan quantities appear light or heavy, so you can adjust unit prices before submitting. Where the plans leave temporary works to the contractor, our assumptions are described in plain terms that your project manager can edit.
Scope of takeoff
Bridge components we measure
Structure plans converted into pay-item quantities, with temporary works priced alongside the permanent work.
Scroll through all 12 line items
On site and on the drawings
The work behind every bridge estimating
Tap any image to open it full screen.
Process
How our estimating process works
Four steps from upload to a bid-ready estimate, with a senior estimator signing off before anything leaves our desk.
Upload plans and scope
- 1
Step 1
Upload plans and scope
Send your drawings, specifications and bid invitation through the secure upload form. We confirm scope, deadline and a fixed price within two business hours.
- 2
Step 2
Digital quantity takeoff
Estimators measure every item from calibrated plans in Bluebeam and PlanSwift, color-coding each layer so quantities can be traced back to the drawing.
- 3
Step 3
Pricing and labor
Quantities are priced with location-adjusted material costs, crew productivity rates and equipment, then marked up to your overhead and profit targets.
- 4
Step 4
Senior review and delivery
A second estimator audits quantities and pricing, documents assumptions and exclusions, and delivers your Excel workbook, PDF summary and marked-up plans.
Estimate types
What type of bridge estimating can you get?
Match the estimate to where your project is. Every option is priced as a flat fee before work begins.
01
Structure bid estimate
Complete pay-item pricing for a new or replacement bridge, built from structure plans, with temporary works and a pour-sequence schedule.
- Accuracy
- ±6%
- Turnaround
- 72 hours
02
Rehabilitation and deck repair pricing
Partial-depth deck removal, patching, overlays, joint replacement and bearing work priced by span and by closure window.
- Accuracy
- ±7%
- Turnaround
- 48 hours
03
Superstructure subcontract takeoff
Girders, diaphragms, bearings and deck reinforcement quantified for erection and steel or precast subcontractors.
- Accuracy
- Qty only
- Turnaround
- 48 hours
04
Feasibility and alternates budget
Cost per square foot of deck for concept comparisons such as steel plate girder against precast bulb-tee.
- Accuracy
- ±15%
- Turnaround
- 24–48 hours
Why LEEDS
Why contractors switch to LEEDS
An estimating desk that behaves like an extension of your team, not a software subscription.
Quantities taken from structure plans by element, then converted to the pay items your bid form actually uses.
Reinforcing computed from bar schedules rather, than a pounds-per-yard guess, with epoxy and galvanizing adders applied correctly.
Falsework, cofferdams, trestles and crane, pads priced from site constraints instead of left to overhead.
Girder pricing that separates fabrication, shipping and erection, with crane capacity checked against pick weights.
Deck pours planned in sequence so concrete, finishing and curing labor reflect the real placement windows.
Night work, lane closure limits and detour, requirements priced as production constraints with clear assumptions.
Material grades such as HPC, prestressing strand and elastomeric bearings pulled from general notes and special provisions.
A reconciliation log between plan quantities, and the owner's estimated quantities for fast bid-day decisions.
Deliverables
What's included in your estimate package
Every deliverable is formatted so it can go straight into a proposal, a purchase order or an owner report.
XLSX
Estimate workbook
Quantities, unit costs, labor hours and totals organized by CSI division, with subtotals, markups and a bid summary tab.
PDF
Marked-up plans
Color-coded takeoff drawings showing exactly where every measured quantity came from.
XLSX
Material procurement list
Consolidated material quantities with waste factors applied, ready to send to suppliers for quotes.
XLSX
Labor hours by task
Crew-based labor hours and productivity rates so you can check the schedule against the estimate.
PDF
Assumptions and exclusions log
Every clarification, allowance and exclusion documented so your proposal scope is defensible.
PDF
Bid summary sheet
A proposal-ready one-page summary with overhead, profit, bonds and contingency applied.
Reviews
What contractors say after their first bid with us
What general contractors, subcontractors and developers say after bidding with our numbers.
Trustpilot
“Squares, underlayment, flashing lengths, fastener counts, even the ridge vent. The waste factors were right for the roof pitch. Bid-ready out of the box.”
Greg Lindqvist
Estimator, Summit Roofing Co. · Kansas City, MO
Trustpilot
“The conduit and wire takeoff matched what my foreman pulled from the drawings almost to the foot. Labor hours were realistic for our crews. It is the first outsourced estimate I did not have to redo.”
Dana Okafor
Owner, Okafor Electric · Houston, TX
Google
“Lumber lists, finish schedules and allowances in a format our clients actually understand. The assumptions log alone has saved us from two scope disputes.”
Luis Herrera
Project Manager, Sierra Ridge Homes · Phoenix, AZ
FAQ
Bridge Estimating FAQs
How do you estimate reinforcing steel on a bridge?
We build the quantity from bar schedules and bending diagrams on the structure plans, grouped by mark, size and coating. Laps, chairs and waste are added explicitly, and the total pounds are reconciled to the pay item so epoxy-coated and black bar are priced separately. Mill certifications and coating requirements are noted too.
Do you include cofferdams and temporary access?
Yes. When the plans or hydraulic notes show work in water, we price cofferdams, dewatering, trestles and containment as separate lines. Where the contractor is left to design means and methods, we state the assumed approach so you can compare it with your own. Any difference between the bar list and the pay item quantity is shown in the log.
Can you price both steel and precast girder options?
We can price alternates side by side, including fabrication, coating, shipping and erection for steel, and casting, hauling and crane setup for precast. This is useful for value engineering studies and for contractors proposing alternates to the owner. Our schedule shows the cost, the steel or precast lead time and the crane hours for each option.
How are deck quantities and overlays measured?
Concrete is measured in cubic yards from the deck thickness, haunches and overhangs, and overlays in square yards. We add deck reinforcing, forms, finishing, curing and grooving and organize them by pour to support the sequence. Haunch depth and screed grade adjustments are carried in the quantities as well.
Do you account for lane closures and night work?
Yes. We price maintenance of traffic from the staging plan and adjust productivity and labor rates for limited work windows, including night premiums, setup and takedown time, and reduced output when crews must clear the roadway each shift. Incentive and disincentive clauses are listed so you can weigh schedule risk.
What does turnaround look like for a bridge estimate?
Single-span replacements are usually delivered in 72 hours. Multi-span or interchange structures are scheduled with you after we review the plan set, and rush options are available for lettings when all documents are received early. We confirm the delivery date, scope and price before starting work.
Related
Related estimating services
Most projects need more than one trade. Bundle them into a single upload and we price the whole scope together.
Blog
Insights from the estimating desk
Practical guidance on bidding, takeoffs and protecting margin.
Ready for a bridge estimating quote?
Upload your plans and get a fixed quote within 2 business hours. Most estimates are delivered in 24–48 hours.