MAIN STREET SOUTH
Carrying MAIN STREET SOUTH over SMALL CREEK
069020406, Des Moines, Iowa
Data updated May 2026
FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.
Bridge Snapshot: MAIN STREET SOUTH
The MAIN STREET SOUTH bridge in Des Moines, Iowa carries MAIN STREET SOUTH over SMALL CREEK. It was built in 1886, making it 140 years old today. The structure is built primarily of masonry and spans 1 section, stretching 11.6 meters (38 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 3,705 vehicles, placing it in the moderately-trafficked tier of Iowa bridges. It is owned and maintained by City/Municipal Highway Agency.
The latest FHWA inspection records show culvert at 4/9. The weakest component sits in poor 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. Its NBI inventory load rating is 24.5 metric tons.
Sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for refresh cadence and NBI release vintage.
How MAIN STREET SOUTH 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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
- 1886
- Material
- Masonry
- Number of Spans
- 1
- Structure Length
- 11.6 m (38 ft)
- Owner
- City/Municipal Highway Agency
- Avg Daily Traffic
- 3,705 vehicles/day
- Structure Number
- 000000000505510
Location
Data Source
FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI).
FHWA NBI Program ↗How to read this record
MAIN STREET SOUTH 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 MAIN STREET SOUTH against other structures in Des Moines 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 MAIN STREET SOUTH?
MAIN STREET SOUTH in Des Moines, Iowa on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.
How often is MAIN STREET SOUTH inspected?
MAIN STREET SOUTH'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 3,705 vehicles per day.
What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?
FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. MAIN STREET SOUTH 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 MAIN STREET SOUTH?
MAIN STREET SOUTH has an NBI inventory load rating of 24.5 metric tons.
Who is responsible for maintaining MAIN STREET SOUTH?
MAIN STREET SOUTH is owned and maintained by City/Municipal Highway Agency.
How old is MAIN STREET SOUTH and does age affect safety?
MAIN STREET SOUTH was built in 1886, making it 140 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.
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.