FHWA NBI 2024 Inspection record Public-domain dataset

CO. RT. 946

Carrying CO. RT. 946 over SMITH LAKE

CR 946, Cullman, Alabama

Data updated May 2026

FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.

Fair
21 t Inventory load rating

Bridge Snapshot: CO. RT. 946

The CO. RT. 946 bridge in Cullman, Alabama carries CO. RT. 946 over SMITH LAKE. It was built in 1964, making it 62 years old today. The structure is built primarily of steel continuous and spans 3 sections, stretching 92.7 meters (304 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 240 vehicles, placing it in the lower-traffic tier of Alabama bridges. It is owned and maintained by County Highway Agency.

The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 6/9, superstructure at 6/9, substructure at 6/9. 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 21.4 metric tons.

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

How CO. RT. 946 compares

▼ 16.9
Load rating vs Alabama average (38.3 t)
Bottom 12%
Lower load rating than 88% of Alabama bridges
211
Bridges in Cullman · 13 in Poor condition
CO. RT. 946 21.4 t
Alabama average 38.3 t

Live comparison across Alabama.

Historical Sufficiency Rating

PlainBridge-computed
68.0 / 100 - historical 50–79.9 band
Structural adequacy /55
43.1
Serviceability /30
13.0
Essentiality /15
14.8
Special reductions
−3.0

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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
6/9
Fair (5–6)
Substructure
6/9
Fair (5–6)
Inventory Load Rating
21.4 t
NBI inventory level (metric tons)
Overall Condition
Fair

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

Structural Details

Year Built
1964
Material
Steel Continuous
Number of Spans
3
Structure Length
92.7 m (304 ft)
Deck Width
7.1 m (23 ft)
Owner
County Highway Agency
Avg Daily Traffic
240 vehicles/day
Structure Number
008276

Condition Analysis

  • At 6/9, the deck (driving surface) shows fair condition, with minor wear flagged for upkeep.
  • 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) rates fair at 6/9, minor deterioration that routine maintenance should address.

How to read this record

This page shows what the last federal inspection recorded, not whether CO. RT. 946 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 CO. RT. 946 against other structures in Cullman and across Alabama. Alabama 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 CO. RT. 946?

CO. RT. 946 in Cullman, Alabama has a deck rating of 6/9, superstructure rating of 6/9, and substructure rating of 6/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.

How often is CO. RT. 946 inspected?

CO. RT. 946'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 240 vehicles per day.

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

FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. CO. RT. 946 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 CO. RT. 946?

CO. RT. 946 has an NBI inventory load rating of 21.4 metric tons.

Who is responsible for maintaining CO. RT. 946?

CO. RT. 946 is owned and maintained by County Highway Agency.

How old is CO. RT. 946 and does age affect safety?

CO. RT. 946 was built in 1964, making it 62 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.