<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2017-09-30</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2017-10-04</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000352825</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FOSTER L B CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>FSTR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001556313</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Vizi Bradley</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>9401 WILSHIRE BLVD, SUITE 705</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BEVERLY HILLS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90212</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001595909</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Legion Partners, L.P. I</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>9401 WILSHIRE BLVD.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 705</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BEVERLY HILLS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90212</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001618783</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Legion Partners, L.P. II</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>9401 WILSHIRE BLVD.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 705</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BEVERLY HILLS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90212</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001661189</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Legion Partners Special Opportunities, L.P. II</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>9401 WILSHIRE BLVD.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 705</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BEVERLY HILLS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90212</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001682390</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Legion Partners, LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>9401 WILSHIRE BLVD., SUITE 705</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BEVERLY HILLS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90212</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001560207</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Legion Partners Asset Management, LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>9401 WILSHIRE BLVD., SUITE 705</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BEVERLY HILLS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90212</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001682389</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Legion Partners Holdings, LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>9401 WILSHIRE BLVD., SUITE 705</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BEVERLY HILLS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90212</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001432744</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Kiper Christopher S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>9401 WILSHIRE BLVD, SUITE 705</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BEVERLY HILLS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90212</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001682494</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>White Raymond T.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>9401 WILSHIRE BLVD.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 705</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BEVERLY HILLS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90212</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1141750</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Legion Partners, L.P. I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>108856</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Legion Partners, L.P. II</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>333617</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Legion Partners Special Opportunities L.P. II</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>11398</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Legion Partners Asset Management, LLC</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F7"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-09-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F8"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>549</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>22.75</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F8"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This Form 4 is filed jointly by Legion Partners, L.P. I (&quot;Legion Partners I&quot;), Legion Partners, L.P. II (&quot;Legion Partners II&quot;), Legion Partners Special Opportunities, L.P. II (&quot;Legion Partners Special II&quot;), Legion Partners, LLC (&quot;General Partner&quot;), Legion Partners Asset Management, LLC (&quot;Legion Partners Asset Management&quot;), Legion Partners Holdings, LLC (&quot;Legion Partners Holdings&quot;), Bradley S. Vizi, Christopher S. Kiper and Raymond T. White (collectively, the &quot;Reporting Persons&quot;).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">As of the transaction date set forth above, each Reporting Person may be deemed to be a member of a Section 13(d) group that owns more than 10% of the Issuer's outstanding shares of Common Stock. Each Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities reported herein except to the extent of his or its pecuniary interest therein, and this report shall not be deemed to be an admission that any Reporting Person is the beneficial owner of such securities for purposes of Section 16 or for any other purpose.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Legion Partners I directly owns these shares of common stock (&quot;Common Stock&quot;) of L.B. Foster Company (the &quot;Issuer&quot;). General Partner is the general partner of Legion Partners I, Legion Partners Asset Management is the investment advisor of Legion Partners I, Legion Partners Holdings is the sole member of Legion Partners Asset Management and managing member of General Partner, and each of Messrs. Vizi, Kiper and White are managing directors of Legion Partners Asset Management and managing members of Legion Partners Holdings, as of the transaction date set forth above.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">As a result of these relationships, General Partner, Legion Partners Asset Management, Legion Partners Holdings and Messrs. Vizi, Kiper and White may be deemed to have shared voting and dispositive power over the Common Stock owned by Legion Partners I, as of the transaction date set forth above.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Legion Partners II directly owns these shares of Common Stock. General Partner is the general partner of Legion Partners II, Legion Partners Asset Management is the investment advisor of Legion Partners II, Legion Partners Holdings is the sole member of Legion Partners Asset Management and managing member of General Partner, and each of Messrs. Vizi, Kiper and White are managing directors of Legion Partners Asset Management and managing members of Legion Partners Holdings, as of the transaction date set forth above. As a result of these relationships, General Partner, Legion Partners Asset Management, Legion Partners Holdings and Messrs. Vizi, Kiper and White may be deemed to have shared voting and dispositive power over the Common Stock owned by Legion Partners II, as of the transaction date set forth above.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">Legion Partners Special II directly owns these shares of Common Stock. General Partner is the general partner of Legion Partners Special II, Legion Partners Asset Management is the investment advisor of Legion Partners Special II, Legion Partners Holdings is the sole member of Legion Partners Asset Management and managing member of General Partner, and each of Messrs. Vizi, Kiper and White are managing directors of Legion Partners Asset Management and managing members of Legion Partners Holdings, as of the transaction date set forth above. As a result of these relationships, General Partner, Legion Partners Asset Management, Legion Partners Holdings and Messrs. Vizi, Kiper and White may be deemed to have shared voting and dispositive power over the Common Stock owned by Legion Partners Special II, as of the transaction date set forth above.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">Legion Partners Asset Management directly owns these shares of Common Stock. Legion Partners Holdings is the sole member of Legion Partners Asset Management and each of Messrs. Vizi, Kiper and White are managing directors of Legion Partners Asset Management and managing members of Legion Partners Holdings, as of the transaction date set forth above. As a result of these relationships, Legion Partners Holdings and Messrs. Vizi, Kiper and White may be deemed to have shared voting and dispositive power over the Common Stock owned by Legion Partners Asset Management, as of the transaction date set forth above.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F8">This reflects deferred stock units acquired as a result of an election to receive quarterly director cash fees in equity.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Bradley S. Vizi</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-10-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Legion Partners, L.P. I By: Legion Partners Asset Management, LLC, By: /s/ Bradley S. Vizi</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-10-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Legion Partners, L.P. II By: Legion Partners Asset Management, LLC, By: /s/ Bradley S. Vizi</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-10-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Legion Partners Special Opportunities, L.P. II, By: Legion Partners Asset Management, LLC, By: /s/ Bradley S. Vizi</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-10-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Legion Partners, LLC, By: Legion Partners Holdings, LLC, By: /s/ Bradley S. Vizi</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-10-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Legion Partners Asset Management, LLC, By: /s/ Bradley S. Vizi</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-10-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Legion Partners Holdings, LLC, By: /s/ Bradley S. Vizi</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-10-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Christopher S. Kiper</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-10-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Raymond T. White</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-10-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
