FHWA NBI 2024 Inspection record Public-domain dataset

US19,23SBL

Carrying US19,23SBL over REEMS CREEK

.3 MI.N.JCT.SR1720, Buncombe, North Carolina

Data updated May 2026

FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.

Poor
41 t Inventory load rating

Bridge Snapshot: US19,23SBL

The US19,23SBL bridge in Buncombe, North Carolina carries US19,23SBL over REEMS CREEK. It was built in 1963, making it 63 years old today. The structure is built primarily of steel and spans 4 sections, stretching 82.2 meters (270 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 21,000 vehicles, placing it in the heavily-trafficked tier of North Carolina bridges. It is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.

The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 6/9, superstructure at 4/9, substructure at 3/9. The weakest component sits in poor condition. At least one major component here scores 4 or below, which produces a Poor condition classification under FHWA's current reporting rules. Its NBI inventory load rating is 40.8 metric tons.

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

How US19,23SBL compares

▼ 3.4
Load rating vs North Carolina average (44.2 t)
Bottom 49%
Lower load rating than 51% of North Carolina bridges
555
Bridges in Buncombe · 32 in Poor condition
US19,23SBL 40.8 t
North Carolina average 44.2 t

Live comparison across North Carolina.

Historical Sufficiency Rating

PlainBridge-computed
35.5 / 100 - historical 20–49.9 band
Structural adequacy /55
15.0
Serviceability /30
9.0
Essentiality /15
11.5
Special reductions
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
4/9
Poor (1–4)
Substructure
3/9
Poor (1–4)
Inventory Load Rating
40.8 t
NBI inventory level (metric tons)
Overall Condition
Poor

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

Structural Details

Year Built
1963
Material
Steel
Number of Spans
4
Structure Length
82.2 m (270 ft)
Deck Width
10.1 m (33 ft)
Owner
State Highway Agency
Avg Daily Traffic
21,000 vehicles/day
Structure Number
000000000210373

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) rates poor at 3/9, advanced deterioration that should be prioritized for repair.

How to read this record

US19,23SBL 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 US19,23SBL against other structures in Buncombe and across North Carolina. North Carolina 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 US19,23SBL?

US19,23SBL in Buncombe, North Carolina has a deck rating of 6/9, superstructure rating of 4/9, and substructure rating of 3/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.

How often is US19,23SBL inspected?

US19,23SBL'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 21,000 vehicles per day.

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

FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. US19,23SBL 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 US19,23SBL?

US19,23SBL has an NBI inventory load rating of 40.8 metric tons.

Who is responsible for maintaining US19,23SBL?

US19,23SBL is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.

How old is US19,23SBL and does age affect safety?

US19,23SBL was built in 1963, making it 63 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.