Over the past 30 years, fires have caused bridge failures in the U.S. at nearly the same annualized rate as seismic hazards and construction defects. However, fire has garnered significantly less consideration than these other hazards in the design and maintenance of bridge structures. Common overpass bridges with steel plate girders have been particularly susceptible to fire-induced collapse and damage. In June 2023, for example, a gasoline tanker truck crashed and caught fire while crossing under the I-95 overpass at Cottman Avenue in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Against the backdrop of the I-95 fire event, this study demonstrates the use of performance-based structural-fire engineering to determine passive fire protection that can achieve varying response objectives for common steel girder overpass bridges. Thermo-structural evaluation of the steel girder bridge superstructure (including the contributions of the composite deck slab) is conducted in three stages: fire modeling, heat transfer modeling, and structural modeling. Per NFPA 502, engineering analysis can be applied to design fire protection for bridges toward preventing the progressive collapse of primary structural elements, with the first priority being the life safety of users, first responders, and bystanders. Minimizing economic impact is the next objective, which can be achieved by enabling a potential return to service following post-fire repair. Performance-based fire protection levels that are tailored to varying levels of post-fire outcomes can then be correlated to hourly ratings, thus facilitating the selection and specification of passive fire protection materials in consultation with suppliers. The potential for application of intumescent paint is a major focus of this study, since those materials present a market-ready solution for durable and weather-resistant passive fire resistance for steel bridge elements.