FHWA NBI 2024 Inspection record Public-domain dataset

US321 BUS

Carrying US321 BUS over PINCH GUT CREEK

250 FT. N. JCT. SR1880, Catawba, North Carolina

Data updated May 2026

FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.

Good
60 t Inventory load rating

Bridge Snapshot: US321 BUS

The US321 BUS bridge in Catawba, North Carolina carries US321 BUS over PINCH GUT CREEK. It was built in 1995, making it 31 years old today. The structure is built primarily of concrete continuous and spans 3 sections, stretching 8.8 meters (29 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 7,900 vehicles, placing it in the moderately-trafficked tier of North Carolina bridges. It is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.

The latest FHWA inspection records show culvert at 7/9. The weakest component sits in good condition. All reported major components score above the Poor range. Its NBI inventory load rating is 59.8 metric tons.

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

How US321 BUS compares

▲ 15.6
Load rating vs North Carolina average (44.2 t)
Top 17%
Higher load rating than 83% of North Carolina bridges
236
Bridges in Catawba · 14 in Poor condition
US321 BUS 59.8 t
North Carolina average 44.2 t

Live comparison across North Carolina.

Historical Sufficiency Rating

PlainBridge-computed
99.6 / 100 - historical 80–100 band
Structural adequacy /55
55.0
Serviceability /30
30.0
Essentiality /15
14.6
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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

Culvert
7/9
Good (7–9)
Inventory Load Rating
59.8 t
NBI inventory level (metric tons)
Overall Condition
Good

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

Structural Details

Year Built
1995
Material
Concrete Continuous
Number of Spans
3
Structure Length
8.8 m (29 ft)
Owner
State Highway Agency
Avg Daily Traffic
7,900 vehicles/day
Structure Number
000000000350033

How to read this record

This page shows what the last federal inspection recorded, not whether US321 BUS 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 US321 BUS against other structures in Catawba 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 US321 BUS?

US321 BUS in Catawba, North Carolina on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.

How often is US321 BUS inspected?

US321 BUS'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 7,900 vehicles per day.

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

FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. US321 BUS is currently shown as Good condition from its component ratings; that category is not a live closure or safety decision.

What is the inventory load rating for US321 BUS?

US321 BUS has an NBI inventory load rating of 59.8 metric tons.

Who is responsible for maintaining US321 BUS?

US321 BUS is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.

How old is US321 BUS and does age affect safety?

US321 BUS was built in 1995, making it 31 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.