US 78-US 278
Carrying US 78-US 278 over SWEETWATER CREEK
IN EAST AUSTELL, Cobb, Georgia
Data updated May 2026
FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.
Bridge Snapshot: US 78-US 278
The US 78-US 278 bridge in Cobb, Georgia carries US 78-US 278 over SWEETWATER CREEK. It was built in 1944, making it 82 years old today. It was last reconstructed in 1994, extending its service life. The structure is built primarily of steel continuous and spans 2 sections, stretching 61.6 meters (202 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 22,700 vehicles, placing it in the heavily-trafficked tier of Georgia bridges. It is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.
The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 7/9, superstructure at 7/9, substructure 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 22.6 metric tons.
Sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for refresh cadence and NBI release vintage.
How US 78-US 278 compares
Live comparison across Georgia.
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
- 1944
- Last Reconstructed
- 1994
- Material
- Steel Continuous
- Number of Spans
- 2
- Structure Length
- 61.6 m (202 ft)
- Deck Width
- 24.5 m (80 ft)
- Owner
- State Highway Agency
- Avg Daily Traffic
- 22,700 vehicles/day
- Structure Number
- 000000006700310
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) is in good condition (7/9), showing no significant deterioration.
- • At 7/9, the substructure (piers and abutments) is in good shape and shows no significant wear.
How to read this record
This page shows what the last federal inspection recorded, not whether US 78-US 278 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 US 78-US 278 against other structures in Cobb and across Georgia. Georgia 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 US 78-US 278?
US 78-US 278 in Cobb, Georgia has a deck rating of 7/9, superstructure rating of 7/9, and substructure rating of 7/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.
How often is US 78-US 278 inspected?
US 78-US 278'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 22,700 vehicles per day.
What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?
FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. US 78-US 278 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 US 78-US 278?
US 78-US 278 has an NBI inventory load rating of 22.6 metric tons.
Who is responsible for maintaining US 78-US 278?
US 78-US 278 is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.
How old is US 78-US 278 and does age affect safety?
US 78-US 278 was built in 1944, making it 82 years old and last reconstructed in 1994.
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.