FHWA NBI 2024 Inspection record Public-domain dataset

Shields Bridge Rd

Carrying Shields Bridge Rd over Occohannock Creek

1.16 FR BLHAV/1.48 TO 613, Accomack, Virginia

Data updated May 2026

FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.

Poor
26 t Inventory load rating

Bridge Snapshot: Shields Bridge Rd

The Shields Bridge Rd bridge in Accomack, Virginia carries Shields Bridge Rd over Occohannock Creek. It was built in 1933, making it 93 years old today. The structure is built primarily of steel and spans 3 sections, stretching 29.7 meters (97 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 1,950 vehicles, placing it in the moderately-trafficked tier of Virginia bridges. It is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.

The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 6/9, superstructure at 5/9, substructure at 4/9. The weakest component sits in poor condition. At least one major component here scores 4 or below, which produces a Poor condition classification under FHWA's current reporting rules. Its NBI inventory load rating is 25.5 metric tons.

Sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for refresh cadence and NBI release vintage.

How Shields Bridge Rd compares

▼ 20.5
Load rating vs Virginia average (46.0 t)
Bottom 12%
Lower load rating than 88% of Virginia bridges
31
Bridges in Accomack · 1 in Poor condition
Shields Bridge Rd 25.5 t
Virginia average 46.0 t

Live comparison across Virginia.

Historical Sufficiency Rating

PlainBridge-computed
45.8 / 100 - historical 20–49.9 band
Structural adequacy /55
24.1
Serviceability /30
9.0
Essentiality /15
12.7
Special reductions
0

FHWA discontinued this calculated item; it does not determine current condition, funding eligibility, posting, or closure. How the historical reference is calculated.

Condition Ratings

Deck
6/9
Fair (5–6)
Superstructure
5/9
Fair (5–6)
Substructure
4/9
Poor (1–4)
Inventory Load Rating
25.5 t
NBI inventory level (metric tons)
Overall Condition
Poor

Full 0–9 scale + sufficiency-rating breakdown: how condition ratings work.

Structural Details

Year Built
1933
Material
Steel
Number of Spans
3
Structure Length
29.7 m (97 ft)
Deck Width
7.6 m (25 ft)
Owner
State Highway Agency
Avg Daily Traffic
1,950 vehicles/day
Structure Number
000000000000356

Condition Analysis

  • The deck (driving surface) rates fair at 6/9, minor deterioration that routine maintenance should address.
  • The superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) rates fair at 5/9, minor deterioration that routine maintenance should address.
  • At 4/9, the substructure (piers and abutments) is in poor shape, with advanced wear flagged for priority repair.

How to read this record

Shields Bridge Rd is in the federal Poor condition category. That is a component-based result, not a closure order.

  • NBI condition ratings reflect the latest record in this annual dataset, not a live status. Current routine inspection intervals are risk-based.
  • Understand what Poor condition does and does not mean before drawing conclusions. Poor condition explained
  • Compare Shields Bridge Rd against other structures in Accomack and across Virginia. Virginia bridges
  • Noticed visible damage or a safety concern? Report it to the agency that owns the bridge, or call 911 in an emergency. How to report a bridge

Condition codes come straight from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory and are not a real-time safety judgment. Only the owning agency, a state DOT, county, or other owner, can post, restrict, or close a bridge.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do the condition ratings mean for Shields Bridge Rd?

Shields Bridge Rd in Accomack, Virginia has a deck rating of 6/9, superstructure rating of 5/9, and substructure rating of 4/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.

How often is Shields Bridge Rd inspected?

Shields Bridge Rd's responsible agency sets its routine interval under FHWA's risk-based inspection rules; this page does not expose the scheduled interval. It carries about 1,950 vehicles per day.

What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?

FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. Shields Bridge Rd is currently shown as Poor condition from its component ratings; that category is not a live closure or safety decision.

What is the inventory load rating for Shields Bridge Rd?

Shields Bridge Rd has an NBI inventory load rating of 25.5 metric tons.

Who is responsible for maintaining Shields Bridge Rd?

Shields Bridge Rd is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.

How old is Shields Bridge Rd and does age affect safety?

Shields Bridge Rd was built in 1933, making it 93 years old.

Disclaimer: Bridge condition data is from the FHWA NBI and reflects the last reported inspection. A Poor condition rating is not a live declaration that a bridge is closed or unsafe for travel. For current closure, posting, or safety information, contact the responsible transportation agency.

Data sourced from the Federal Highway Administration National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainBridges

Every figure on PlainBridge is rendered directly from federal source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.