FHWA NBI 2024 Inspection record Public-domain dataset

I40 EBL

Carrying I40 EBL over BUFFALO SHOALS CREEK

0.3 MI. W. JCT. SR1505, Iredell, North Carolina

Data updated May 2026

FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.

Poor
34 t Inventory load rating

Bridge Snapshot: I40 EBL

The I40 EBL bridge in Iredell, North Carolina carries I40 EBL over BUFFALO SHOALS CREEK. It was built in 1957, making it 69 years old today. The structure is built primarily of steel and spans 4 sections, stretching 54.8 meters (180 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 17,750 vehicles, placing it in the heavily-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 4/9, superstructure at 5/9, substructure at 6/9. The weakest component sits in poor condition. At least one major component here scores 4 or below, which produces a Poor condition classification under FHWA's current reporting rules. Its NBI inventory load rating is 33.5 metric tons.

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

How I40 EBL compares

▼ 10.7
Load rating vs North Carolina average (44.2 t)
Bottom 36%
Lower load rating than 64% of North Carolina bridges
335
Bridges in Iredell · 31 in Poor condition
I40 EBL 33.5 t
North Carolina average 44.2 t

Live comparison across North Carolina.

Historical Sufficiency Rating

PlainBridge-computed
63.6 / 100 - historical 50–79.9 band
Structural adequacy /55
45.0
Serviceability /30
7.0
Essentiality /15
11.6
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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

Deck
4/9
Poor (1–4)
Superstructure
5/9
Fair (5–6)
Substructure
6/9
Fair (5–6)
Inventory Load Rating
33.5 t
NBI inventory level (metric tons)
Overall Condition
Poor

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

Structural Details

Year Built
1957
Material
Steel
Number of Spans
4
Structure Length
54.8 m (180 ft)
Deck Width
10.1 m (33 ft)
Owner
State Highway Agency
Avg Daily Traffic
17,750 vehicles/day
Structure Number
000000000970051

Condition Analysis

  • The deck (driving surface) is in poor condition (4/9), showing advanced deterioration that may require priority repair.
  • The superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) rates fair at 5/9, minor deterioration that routine maintenance should address.
  • The substructure (piers and abutments) rates fair at 6/9, minor deterioration that routine maintenance should address.

How to read this record

I40 EBL 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 I40 EBL against other structures in Iredell 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 I40 EBL?

I40 EBL in Iredell, North Carolina has a deck rating of 4/9, superstructure rating of 5/9, and substructure rating of 6/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.

How often is I40 EBL inspected?

I40 EBL'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 17,750 vehicles per day.

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

FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. I40 EBL 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 I40 EBL?

I40 EBL has an NBI inventory load rating of 33.5 metric tons.

Who is responsible for maintaining I40 EBL?

I40 EBL is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.

How old is I40 EBL and does age affect safety?

I40 EBL was built in 1957, making it 69 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.