KY-551
Carrying KY-551 over BUTLERS BRANCH
.70 MI NOR. OF JCT KY 901, Adair, Kentucky
Data updated May 2026
FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.
Bridge Snapshot: KY-551
The KY-551 bridge in Adair, Kentucky carries KY-551 over BUTLERS BRANCH. It was built in 1955, making it 71 years old today. The structure is built primarily of concrete and spans 2 sections, stretching 7.0 meters (23 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 2,008 vehicles, placing it in the moderately-trafficked tier of Kentucky bridges. It is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.
The latest FHWA inspection records show culvert at 4/9. 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 20.3 metric tons.
Sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for refresh cadence and NBI release vintage.
How KY-551 compares
Live comparison across Kentucky.
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
- 1955
- Material
- Concrete
- Number of Spans
- 2
- Structure Length
- 7.0 m (23 ft)
- Deck Width
- 8.5 m (28 ft)
- Owner
- State Highway Agency
- Avg Daily Traffic
- 2,008 vehicles/day
- Structure Number
- 001B00036N
Location
Data Source
FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI).
FHWA NBI Program ↗How to read this record
KY-551 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 KY-551 against other structures in Adair and across Kentucky. Kentucky 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 KY-551?
KY-551 in Adair, Kentucky on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.
How often is KY-551 inspected?
KY-551'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 2,008 vehicles per day.
What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?
FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. KY-551 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 KY-551?
KY-551 has an NBI inventory load rating of 20.3 metric tons.
Who is responsible for maintaining KY-551?
KY-551 is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.
How old is KY-551 and does age affect safety?
KY-551 was built in 1955, making it 71 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.
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.