FHWA NBI 2024 Inspection record Public-domain dataset

LOCAL

Carrying LOCAL over SMALL TRIBUTARY

070102303, Van Buren, Iowa

Data updated May 2026

FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.

Poor

Bridge Snapshot: LOCAL

The LOCAL bridge in Van Buren, Iowa carries LOCAL over SMALL TRIBUTARY. It was built in 1977, making it 49 years old today. The structure is built primarily of steel and spans 1 section, stretching 9.4 meters (31 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 11 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 0/9, substructure at 0/9. The weakest component sits in critical 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 LOCAL compares

142
Bridges in Van Buren · 46 in Poor condition

Live comparison across Iowa.

Historical Sufficiency Rating

PlainBridge-computed
32.0 / 100 - historical 20–49.9 band
Structural adequacy /55
0.0
Serviceability /30
17.0
Essentiality /15
15.0
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
0/9
Failed (0)
Superstructure
0/9
Failed (0)
Substructure
0/9
Failed (0)
Overall Condition
Poor

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

Structural Details

Year Built
1977
Material
Steel
Number of Spans
1
Structure Length
9.4 m (31 ft)
Deck Width
7.3 m (24 ft)
Owner
County Highway Agency
Avg Daily Traffic
11 vehicles/day
Structure Number
000000000329721

Condition Analysis

  • The deck (driving surface) is in critical condition (0/9), with severe deterioration requiring urgent attention.
  • At 0/9, the superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) is in critical shape, with severe wear requiring urgent action.
  • The substructure (piers and abutments) rates critical at 0/9, severe deterioration that needs urgent attention.

How to read this record

LOCAL 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 LOCAL 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 LOCAL?

LOCAL in Van Buren, Iowa has a deck rating of 0/9, superstructure rating of 0/9, and substructure rating of 0/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.

How often is LOCAL inspected?

LOCAL'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 11 vehicles per day.

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

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

An inventory load rating is not recorded for LOCAL.

Who is responsible for maintaining LOCAL?

LOCAL is owned and maintained by County Highway Agency.

How old is LOCAL and does age affect safety?

LOCAL was built in 1977, making it 49 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.