5TH ST SW
Carrying 5TH ST SW over KNIFE RIVER
4 WEST 1 NORTH STANTON, Mercer, North Dakota
Data updated May 2026
FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.
Bridge Snapshot: 5TH ST SW
The 5TH ST SW bridge in Mercer, North Dakota carries 5TH ST SW over KNIFE RIVER. It was built in 1917, making it 109 years old today. It was last reconstructed in 1998, extending its service life. The structure is built primarily of steel and spans 1 section, stretching 38.4 meters (126 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 5 vehicles, placing it in the lower-traffic tier of North Dakota bridges. It is owned and maintained by County Highway Agency.
The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 6/9, superstructure at 5/9, substructure at 5/9. The weakest component sits in fair condition. No reported major component scores in the Poor range under the current federal condition thresholds. Its NBI inventory load rating is 2.9 metric tons.
Sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for refresh cadence and NBI release vintage.
How 5TH ST SW compares
Live comparison across North Dakota.
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
- 1917
- Last Reconstructed
- 1998
- Material
- Steel
- Number of Spans
- 1
- Structure Length
- 38.4 m (126 ft)
- Deck Width
- 6.2 m (20 ft)
- Owner
- County Highway Agency
- Avg Daily Traffic
- 5 vehicles/day
- Structure Number
- 000000029135160
Location
Data Source
FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI).
FHWA NBI Program ↗Condition Analysis
- • The deck (driving surface) is in fair condition (6/9), with minor deterioration that may require routine maintenance.
- • At 5/9, the superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) shows fair condition, with minor wear flagged for upkeep.
- • At 5/9, 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 5TH ST SW 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 5TH ST SW against other structures in Mercer and across North Dakota. North 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 5TH ST SW?
5TH ST SW in Mercer, North Dakota has a deck rating of 6/9, superstructure rating of 5/9, and substructure rating of 5/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.
How often is 5TH ST SW inspected?
5TH ST SW'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 5 vehicles per day.
What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?
FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. 5TH ST SW 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 5TH ST SW?
5TH ST SW has an NBI inventory load rating of 2.9 metric tons.
Who is responsible for maintaining 5TH ST SW?
5TH ST SW is owned and maintained by County Highway Agency.
How old is 5TH ST SW and does age affect safety?
5TH ST SW was built in 1917, making it 109 years old and last reconstructed in 1998.
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.