MCKALE ROAD
Carrying MCKALE ROAD over PRAIRIE RIVER
4.5 MI NE OF STURGIS, St. Joseph, Michigan
Data updated May 2026
FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.
Bridge Snapshot: MCKALE ROAD
The MCKALE ROAD bridge in St. Joseph, Michigan carries MCKALE ROAD over PRAIRIE RIVER. It was built in 1965, making it 61 years old today. The structure is built primarily of wood or timber and spans 2 sections, stretching 13.4 meters (44 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 77 vehicles, placing it in the lower-traffic tier of Michigan bridges. It is owned and maintained by County Highway Agency.
The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 6/9, superstructure at 6/9, substructure at 4/9. The weakest component sits in poor condition. Because at least one major component scores 4 or lower, this bridge falls in FHWA's Poor condition category. That category is not a closure order. Its NBI inventory load rating is 35.3 metric tons.
Sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for refresh cadence and NBI release vintage.
How MCKALE ROAD compares
Live comparison across Michigan.
Historical Sufficiency Rating
PlainBridge-computedFHWA discontinued this calculated item; it does not determine current condition, funding eligibility, posting, or closure. How the historical reference is calculated.
Condition Ratings
Full 0–9 scale + sufficiency-rating breakdown: how condition ratings work.
Structural Details
- Year Built
- 1965
- Material
- Wood or Timber
- Number of Spans
- 2
- Structure Length
- 13.4 m (44 ft)
- Deck Width
- 8.0 m (26 ft)
- Owner
- County Highway Agency
- Avg Daily Traffic
- 77 vehicles/day
- Structure Number
- 000000000010351
Location
Data Source
FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI).
FHWA NBI Program ↗Condition Analysis
- • The deck (driving surface) is in fair condition (6/9), with minor deterioration that may require routine maintenance.
- • The superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) is in fair condition (6/9), with minor deterioration that may require routine maintenance.
- • The substructure (piers and abutments) rates poor at 4/9, advanced deterioration that should be prioritized for repair.
How to read this record
MCKALE ROAD 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 MCKALE ROAD against other structures in St. Joseph and across Michigan. Michigan 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 MCKALE ROAD?
MCKALE ROAD in St. Joseph, Michigan has a deck rating of 6/9, superstructure rating of 6/9, and substructure rating of 4/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.
How often is MCKALE ROAD inspected?
MCKALE ROAD'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 77 vehicles per day.
What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?
FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. MCKALE ROAD 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 MCKALE ROAD?
MCKALE ROAD has an NBI inventory load rating of 35.3 metric tons.
Who is responsible for maintaining MCKALE ROAD?
MCKALE ROAD is owned and maintained by County Highway Agency.
How old is MCKALE ROAD and does age affect safety?
MCKALE ROAD was built in 1965, making it 61 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.
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.