FHWA NBI 2024 Inspection record Public-domain dataset

FM

Carrying FM over ROCK CREEK

086110503, Benton, Iowa

Data updated May 2026

FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.

Fair
30 t Inventory load rating

Bridge Snapshot: FM

The FM bridge in Benton, Iowa carries FM over ROCK CREEK. It was built in 1987, making it 39 years old today. The structure is built primarily of concrete continuous and spans 3 sections, stretching 39.0 meters (128 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 70 vehicles, placing it in the lower-traffic tier of Iowa 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 6/9. The weakest component sits in fair condition. No reported major component scores in the Poor range under the current federal condition thresholds. Its NBI inventory load rating is 29.8 metric tons.

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

How FM compares

▼ 1.1
Load rating vs Iowa average (30.9 t)
Bottom 44%
Lower load rating than 56% of Iowa bridges
327
Bridges in Benton · 77 in Poor condition
FM 29.8 t
Iowa average 30.9 t

Live comparison across Iowa.

Historical Sufficiency Rating

PlainBridge-computed
97.6 / 100 - historical 80–100 band
Structural adequacy /55
53.6
Serviceability /30
30.0
Essentiality /15
15.0
Special reductions
−1.0

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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
6/9
Fair (5–6)
Substructure
6/9
Fair (5–6)
Inventory Load Rating
29.8 t
NBI inventory level (metric tons)
Overall Condition
Fair

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

Structural Details

Year Built
1987
Material
Concrete Continuous
Number of Spans
3
Structure Length
39.0 m (128 ft)
Deck Width
10.1 m (33 ft)
Owner
County Highway Agency
Avg Daily Traffic
70 vehicles/day
Structure Number
000000000073291

Condition Analysis

  • At 6/9, the deck (driving surface) shows fair condition, with minor wear flagged for upkeep.
  • The superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) rates fair at 6/9, minor deterioration that routine maintenance should address.
  • At 6/9, the substructure (piers and abutments) shows fair condition, with minor wear flagged for upkeep.

How to read this record

This page shows what the last federal inspection recorded, not whether FM 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 FM against other structures in Benton and across Iowa. Iowa 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 FM?

FM in Benton, Iowa has a deck rating of 6/9, superstructure rating of 6/9, and substructure rating of 6/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.

How often is FM inspected?

FM'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 70 vehicles per day.

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

FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. FM 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 FM?

FM has an NBI inventory load rating of 29.8 metric tons.

Who is responsible for maintaining FM?

FM is owned and maintained by County Highway Agency.

How old is FM and does age affect safety?

FM was built in 1987, making it 39 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.