FHWA NBI 2024 Inspection record Public-domain dataset

391 AVE

Carrying 391 AVE over WEST FIRESTEEL CK

5E 6.8N PLANKINTON, Aurora, South Dakota

Data updated May 2026

FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.

Poor
5 t Inventory load rating

Bridge Snapshot: 391 AVE

The 391 AVE bridge in Aurora, South Dakota carries 391 AVE over WEST FIRESTEEL CK. It was built in 1925, making it 101 years old today. It was last reconstructed in 1960, extending its service life. The structure is built primarily of steel continuous and spans 3 sections, stretching 18.3 meters (60 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 33 vehicles, placing it in the lower-traffic tier of South Dakota bridges. It is owned and maintained by County Highway Agency.

The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 5/9, superstructure at 6/9, substructure at 3/9. The weakest component sits in poor condition. A component scored 4 or below, placing this bridge in the federal Poor condition category rather than declaring it unsafe or closed. Its NBI inventory load rating is 4.8 metric tons.

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

How 391 AVE compares

▼ 27.7
Load rating vs South Dakota average (32.5 t)
Bottom 2%
Lower load rating than 98% of South Dakota bridges
61
Bridges in Aurora · 9 in Poor condition
391 AVE 4.8 t
South Dakota average 32.5 t

Live comparison across South Dakota.

Historical Sufficiency Rating

PlainBridge-computed
36.0 / 100 - historical 20–49.9 band
Structural adequacy /55
0.0
Serviceability /30
21.0
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
5/9
Fair (5–6)
Superstructure
6/9
Fair (5–6)
Substructure
3/9
Poor (1–4)
Inventory Load Rating
4.8 t
NBI inventory level (metric tons)
Overall Condition
Poor

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

Structural Details

Year Built
1925
Last Reconstructed
1960
Material
Steel Continuous
Number of Spans
3
Structure Length
18.3 m (60 ft)
Deck Width
5.5 m (18 ft)
Owner
County Highway Agency
Avg Daily Traffic
33 vehicles/day
Structure Number
000000002210082

Condition Analysis

  • The deck (driving surface) rates fair at 5/9, minor deterioration that routine maintenance should address.
  • At 6/9, the superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) shows fair condition, with minor wear flagged for upkeep.
  • The substructure (piers and abutments) is in poor condition (3/9), showing advanced deterioration that may require priority repair.

How to read this record

391 AVE 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 391 AVE against other structures in Aurora and across South Dakota. South Dakota 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 391 AVE?

391 AVE in Aurora, South Dakota has a deck rating of 5/9, superstructure rating of 6/9, and substructure rating of 3/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.

How often is 391 AVE inspected?

391 AVE'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 33 vehicles per day.

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

FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. 391 AVE 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 391 AVE?

391 AVE has an NBI inventory load rating of 4.8 metric tons.

Who is responsible for maintaining 391 AVE?

391 AVE is owned and maintained by County Highway Agency.

How old is 391 AVE and does age affect safety?

391 AVE was built in 1925, making it 101 years old and last reconstructed in 1960.

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.