FIFTH AVENUE
Carrying FIFTH AVENUE over PORTAGE RIVER
0.3 MI EAST OF US-131 BR, St. Joseph, Michigan
Data updated May 2026
FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.
Bridge Snapshot: FIFTH AVENUE
The FIFTH AVENUE bridge in St. Joseph, Michigan carries FIFTH AVENUE over PORTAGE RIVER. It was built in 1985, making it 41 years old today. The structure is built primarily of prestressed concrete and spans 2 sections, stretching 23.5 meters (77 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 2,800 vehicles, placing it in the moderately-trafficked tier of Michigan bridges. It is owned and maintained by City/Municipal Highway Agency.
The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 7/9, superstructure at 6/9, substructure at 8/9. The weakest component sits in fair condition. All reported major components score above the Poor range. Its NBI inventory load rating is 21.1 metric tons.
Sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for refresh cadence and NBI release vintage.
How FIFTH AVENUE 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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
- 1985
- Material
- Prestressed Concrete
- Number of Spans
- 2
- Structure Length
- 23.5 m (77 ft)
- Deck Width
- 12.6 m (41 ft)
- Owner
- City/Municipal Highway Agency
- Avg Daily Traffic
- 2,800 vehicles/day
- Structure Number
- 000000000010391
Location
Data Source
FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI).
FHWA NBI Program ↗Condition Analysis
- • The deck (driving surface) rates good at 7/9, with no significant deterioration on file.
- • At 6/9, the superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) shows fair condition, with minor wear flagged for upkeep.
- • At 8/9, the substructure (piers and abutments) is in good shape and shows no significant wear.
How to read this record
This page shows what the last federal inspection recorded, not whether FIFTH AVENUE is safe to cross today. Here is how to use it.
- NBI condition ratings reflect the latest record in this annual dataset, not a live status. Current routine inspection intervals are risk-based.
- Learn how the 0–9 condition scale and Good/Fair/Poor categories are defined. How condition ratings work
- Compare FIFTH AVENUE 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 FIFTH AVENUE?
FIFTH AVENUE in St. Joseph, Michigan has a deck rating of 7/9, superstructure rating of 6/9, and substructure rating of 8/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.
How often is FIFTH AVENUE inspected?
FIFTH AVENUE'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 2,800 vehicles per day.
What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?
FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. FIFTH AVENUE is currently shown as Fair condition from its component ratings; that category is not a live closure or safety decision.
What is the inventory load rating for FIFTH AVENUE?
FIFTH AVENUE has an NBI inventory load rating of 21.1 metric tons.
Who is responsible for maintaining FIFTH AVENUE?
FIFTH AVENUE is owned and maintained by City/Municipal Highway Agency.
How old is FIFTH AVENUE and does age affect safety?
FIFTH AVENUE was built in 1985, making it 41 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.