The completion of the Paton Bridge in 1953 opened a new era in engineering: all-welded long-span structures became possible thanks to automatic submerged-arc welding, which the Paton Electric Welding Institute brought to industrial application.
Over the following six decades, Ukraine became one of the world leaders in welded bridge construction. Landmark structures include the Pivdennyi Bridge in Kyiv (1990), the Pivnichnyi (Moskovskyi) Bridge (1976), and the cable-stayed structures in Zaporizhzhia.
Mostobud — the main contractor along this path — mastered the erection of welded metal superstructures with both welded and high-strength bolted joints, orthotropic plates, and complex composite steel-reinforced-concrete cross-sections.