Abstract:BIM technology not only provides new ideas for bridge design, but also effectively improves the quality of bridge design. Combined with the design process of steel bridge in complex waterway, the three-dimensional forward design is carried out for total-element components of main beams, pylon columns, cables and anchor boxes according to the idea of CATIA "skeleton + template". The structural analysis, two-dimensional drawing and engineering amount statistics are carried out, and the engineering applicability of BIM technology in the design of complex waterway steel bridges are verified, which provide the reference for the application of BIM technology in the design of similar bridges.