Independence CR 53
Carrying Independence CR 53 over BAILEY CREEK
6.35 M S SH 157, Independence, Arkansas
Data updated May 2026
FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.
Bridge Snapshot: Independence CR 53
The Independence CR 53 bridge in Independence, Arkansas carries Independence CR 53 over BAILEY CREEK. It was built in 1940, making it 86 years old today. It was last reconstructed in 1991, extending its service life. The structure is built primarily of steel continuous and spans 6 sections, stretching 28.3 meters (93 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 310 vehicles, placing it in the lower-traffic tier of Arkansas bridges. It is owned and maintained by County Highway Agency.
The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 6/9, superstructure at 4/9, substructure at 4/9. 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.
Sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for refresh cadence and NBI release vintage.
How Independence CR 53 compares
Live comparison across Arkansas.
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
- 1940
- Last Reconstructed
- 1991
- Material
- Steel Continuous
- Number of Spans
- 6
- Structure Length
- 28.3 m (93 ft)
- Deck Width
- 6.2 m (20 ft)
- Owner
- County Highway Agency
- Avg Daily Traffic
- 310 vehicles/day
- Structure Number
- 000000000018012
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.
- • At 4/9, the superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) is in poor shape, with advanced wear flagged for priority repair.
- • The substructure (piers and abutments) is in poor condition (4/9), showing advanced deterioration that may require priority repair.
How to read this record
Independence CR 53 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 Independence CR 53 against other structures in Independence and across Arkansas. Arkansas 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 Independence CR 53?
Independence CR 53 in Independence, Arkansas has a deck rating of 6/9, superstructure rating of 4/9, and substructure rating of 4/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.
How often is Independence CR 53 inspected?
Independence CR 53'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 310 vehicles per day.
What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?
FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. Independence CR 53 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 Independence CR 53?
An inventory load rating is not recorded for Independence CR 53.
Who is responsible for maintaining Independence CR 53?
Independence CR 53 is owned and maintained by County Highway Agency.
How old is Independence CR 53 and does age affect safety?
Independence CR 53 was built in 1940, making it 86 years old and last reconstructed in 1991.
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.