252ND ST
Carrying 252ND ST over FOX RIVER
068112203, Van Buren, Iowa
Data updated May 2026
FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.
Bridge Snapshot: 252ND ST
The 252ND ST bridge in Van Buren, Iowa carries 252ND ST over FOX RIVER. It was built in 1885, making it 141 years old today. It was last reconstructed in 1930, extending its service life. The structure is built primarily of steel and spans 1 section, stretching 60.0 meters (197 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 104 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 0/9, superstructure at 2/9, substructure at 3/9. The weakest component sits in critical condition. Because at least one major component scores 4 or lower, this bridge falls in FHWA's Poor condition category. That category is not a closure order.
Sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for refresh cadence and NBI release vintage.
How 252ND ST compares
Live comparison across Iowa.
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
- 1885
- Last Reconstructed
- 1930
- Material
- Steel
- Number of Spans
- 1
- Structure Length
- 60.0 m (197 ft)
- Deck Width
- 4.8 m (16 ft)
- Owner
- County Highway Agency
- Avg Daily Traffic
- 104 vehicles/day
- Structure Number
- 000000000328160
Location
Data Source
FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI).
FHWA NBI Program ↗Condition Analysis
- • At 0/9, the deck (driving surface) is in critical shape, with severe wear requiring urgent action.
- • The superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) is in critical condition (2/9), with severe deterioration requiring urgent attention.
- • At 3/9, the substructure (piers and abutments) is in poor shape, with advanced wear flagged for priority repair.
How to read this record
252ND ST 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 252ND ST against other structures in Van Buren 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 252ND ST?
252ND ST in Van Buren, Iowa has a deck rating of 0/9, superstructure rating of 2/9, and substructure rating of 3/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.
How often is 252ND ST inspected?
252ND ST'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 104 vehicles per day.
What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?
FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. 252ND ST 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 252ND ST?
An inventory load rating is not recorded for 252ND ST.
Who is responsible for maintaining 252ND ST?
252ND ST is owned and maintained by County Highway Agency.
How old is 252ND ST and does age affect safety?
252ND ST was built in 1885, making it 141 years old and last reconstructed in 1930.
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.