FHWA NBI 2024 Inspection record Public-domain dataset

FT MEADE RECREATIO

Carrying FT MEADE RECREATIO over Alkali Creek

3.5 mi SE of Sturgis, SD, Meade, South Dakota

Data updated May 2026

FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.

Poor
15 t Inventory load rating

Bridge Snapshot: FT MEADE RECREATIO

The FT MEADE RECREATIO bridge in Meade, South Dakota carries FT MEADE RECREATIO over Alkali Creek. It was built in 2008, making it 18 years old today. The structure is built primarily of wood or timber and spans 1 section, stretching 7.4 meters (24 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 25 vehicles, placing it in the lower-traffic tier of South Dakota bridges. It is owned and maintained by Bureau of Land Management.

The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 6/9, superstructure at 5/9, substructure at 3/9. The weakest component sits in poor condition. Because at least one major component scores 4 or lower, this bridge falls in FHWA's Poor condition category. That category is not a closure order. Its NBI inventory load rating is 14.6 metric tons.

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

How FT MEADE RECREATIO compares

▼ 17.9
Load rating vs South Dakota average (32.5 t)
Bottom 10%
Lower load rating than 90% of South Dakota bridges
217
Bridges in Meade · 23 in Poor condition
FT MEADE RECREATIO 14.6 t
South Dakota average 32.5 t

Live comparison across South Dakota.

Historical Sufficiency Rating

PlainBridge-computed
27.0 / 100 - historical 20–49.9 band
Structural adequacy /55
0.0
Serviceability /30
13.5
Essentiality /15
13.5
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
6/9
Fair (5–6)
Superstructure
5/9
Fair (5–6)
Substructure
3/9
Poor (1–4)
Inventory Load Rating
14.6 t
NBI inventory level (metric tons)
Overall Condition
Poor

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

Structural Details

Year Built
2008
Material
Wood or Timber
Number of Spans
1
Structure Length
7.4 m (24 ft)
Deck Width
4.9 m (16 ft)
Owner
Bureau of Land Management
Avg Daily Traffic
25 vehicles/day
Structure Number
0000000L2000696

Condition Analysis

  • The deck (driving surface) rates fair at 6/9, minor deterioration that routine maintenance should address.
  • 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 poor at 3/9, advanced deterioration that should be prioritized for repair.

How to read this record

FT MEADE RECREATIO 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 FT MEADE RECREATIO against other structures in Meade 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 FT MEADE RECREATIO?

FT MEADE RECREATIO in Meade, South Dakota has a deck rating of 6/9, superstructure rating of 5/9, and substructure rating of 3/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.

How often is FT MEADE RECREATIO inspected?

FT MEADE RECREATIO'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 25 vehicles per day.

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

FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. FT MEADE RECREATIO 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 FT MEADE RECREATIO?

FT MEADE RECREATIO has an NBI inventory load rating of 14.6 metric tons.

Who is responsible for maintaining FT MEADE RECREATIO?

FT MEADE RECREATIO is owned and maintained by Bureau of Land Management.

How old is FT MEADE RECREATIO and does age affect safety?

FT MEADE RECREATIO was built in 2008, making it 18 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.