INTERSTATE 81 NBL
Carrying INTERSTATE 81 NBL over M. FORK HOLSTON RIVER
0.69 FR WCL - .50 TO 762, Smyth, Virginia
Data updated May 2026
FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.
Bridge Snapshot: INTERSTATE 81 NBL
The INTERSTATE 81 NBL bridge in Smyth, Virginia carries INTERSTATE 81 NBL over M. FORK HOLSTON RIVER. It was built in 1962, making it 64 years old today. It was last reconstructed in 1985, extending its service life. The structure is built primarily of steel and spans 4 sections, stretching 72.4 meters (238 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 16,486 vehicles, placing it in the heavily-trafficked tier of Virginia bridges. It is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.
The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 4/9, superstructure at 4/9, substructure at 5/9. The weakest component sits in poor condition. A component scored 4 or below, placing this bridge in the federal Poor condition category rather than declaring it unsafe or closed. Its NBI inventory load rating is 44.5 metric tons.
Sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for refresh cadence and NBI release vintage.
How INTERSTATE 81 NBL compares
Live comparison across Virginia.
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
- 1962
- Last Reconstructed
- 1985
- Material
- Steel
- Number of Spans
- 4
- Structure Length
- 72.4 m (238 ft)
- Deck Width
- 11.5 m (38 ft)
- Owner
- State Highway Agency
- Avg Daily Traffic
- 16,486 vehicles/day
- Structure Number
- 000000000017427
Location
Data Source
FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI).
FHWA NBI Program ↗Condition Analysis
- • At 4/9, the deck (driving surface) is in poor shape, with advanced wear flagged for priority repair.
- • The superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) rates poor at 4/9, advanced deterioration that should be prioritized for repair.
- • The substructure (piers and abutments) is in fair condition (5/9), with minor deterioration that may require routine maintenance.
How to read this record
INTERSTATE 81 NBL 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 INTERSTATE 81 NBL against other structures in Smyth 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 INTERSTATE 81 NBL?
INTERSTATE 81 NBL in Smyth, Virginia has a deck rating of 4/9, superstructure rating of 4/9, and substructure rating of 5/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.
How often is INTERSTATE 81 NBL inspected?
INTERSTATE 81 NBL'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 16,486 vehicles per day.
What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?
FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. INTERSTATE 81 NBL 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 INTERSTATE 81 NBL?
INTERSTATE 81 NBL has an NBI inventory load rating of 44.5 metric tons.
Who is responsible for maintaining INTERSTATE 81 NBL?
INTERSTATE 81 NBL is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.
How old is INTERSTATE 81 NBL and does age affect safety?
INTERSTATE 81 NBL was built in 1962, making it 64 years old and last reconstructed in 1985.
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.