US321 NBL
Carrying US321 NBL over CROWDERS CREEK
0.1 MI. S. JCT. SR2416, Gaston, North Carolina
Data updated May 2026
FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.
Bridge Snapshot: US321 NBL
The US321 NBL bridge in Gaston, North Carolina carries US321 NBL over CROWDERS CREEK. It was built in 1931, making it 95 years old today. The structure is built primarily of concrete and spans 4 sections, stretching 57.6 meters (189 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 4,800 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 a deck rating of 7/9, superstructure at 6/9, substructure at 6/9. The weakest component sits in fair condition. None of this bridge's reported major components fall into the Poor condition range. Its NBI inventory load rating is 20.8 metric tons.
Sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for refresh cadence and NBI release vintage.
How US321 NBL compares
Live comparison across North Carolina.
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
- 1931
- Material
- Concrete
- Number of Spans
- 4
- Structure Length
- 57.6 m (189 ft)
- Deck Width
- 7.0 m (23 ft)
- Owner
- State Highway Agency
- Avg Daily Traffic
- 4,800 vehicles/day
- Structure Number
- 000000000710032
Location
Data Source
FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI).
FHWA NBI Program ↗Condition Analysis
- • The deck (driving surface) is in good condition (7/9), showing no significant deterioration.
- • The superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) rates fair at 6/9, minor deterioration that routine maintenance should address.
- • At 6/9, the substructure (piers and abutments) shows fair condition, with minor wear flagged for upkeep.
How to read this record
This page shows what the last federal inspection recorded, not whether US321 NBL 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 NBL against other structures in Gaston 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 NBL?
US321 NBL in Gaston, North Carolina has a deck rating of 7/9, superstructure rating of 6/9, and substructure rating of 6/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.
How often is US321 NBL inspected?
US321 NBL'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 4,800 vehicles per day.
What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?
FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. US321 NBL is currently shown as Fair condition from its component ratings; that category is not a live closure or safety decision.
What is the inventory load rating for US321 NBL?
US321 NBL has an NBI inventory load rating of 20.8 metric tons.
Who is responsible for maintaining US321 NBL?
US321 NBL is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.
How old is US321 NBL and does age affect safety?
US321 NBL was built in 1931, making it 95 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.