Prefabricated, prestressed bridge system and method of making same

A method for making a prefabricated, prestressed bridge module comprising:

• providing and arranging one or more steel beams having U-shaped cross sections and supported on three or more supporting formwork elements such that the first supporting formwork element is at a first outer end of the one or more steel beams, the second supporting formwork element is at a middle of the one or more steel beams, the third supporting formwork element is at a second outer end of the one or more steel beams;
• adding shear connectors to the one or more steel beams;
• positioning and extending rebar through the one or more steel beams in a direction perpendicular to the one or more steel beams and above at least two of the supporting formwork elements;
• pouring concrete to form concrete diaphragms on top of and around the rebar at locations above the supporting formwork elements, the diaphragms each extending into cavities defined by the U-shaped steel beams and extending between the U-shaped steel beams;
• adjusting one or more of the supporting formwork elements to stress the one or more steel beams;
• and
• fabricating a concrete deck to form a surface atop the diaphragms and the one or more steel beams such that resulting compression stress of the concrete deck secures in place the stresses imparted to the one or more steel beams, the deck resting on a top of the U-shaped steel beams and diaphragms and not extending below the top of the steel beams.