FHWA NBI 2024 Inspection record Public-domain dataset

US 98

Carrying US 98 over FLY CREEK

0.5 MI W SR 104, Baldwin, Alabama

Data updated May 2026

FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.

Poor
89 t Inventory load rating

Bridge Snapshot: US 98

The US 98 bridge in Baldwin, Alabama carries US 98 over FLY CREEK. It was built in 1968, making it 58 years old today. The structure is built primarily of concrete and spans 7 sections, stretching 25.9 meters (85 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 31,822 vehicles, placing it in the heavily-trafficked tier of Alabama 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 88.9 metric tons.

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

How US 98 compares

▲ 50.6
Load rating vs Alabama average (38.3 t)
Top 6%
Higher load rating than 94% of Alabama bridges
319
Bridges in Baldwin · 4 in Poor condition
US 98 88.9 t
Alabama average 38.3 t

Live comparison across Alabama.

Historical Sufficiency Rating

PlainBridge-computed
52.1 / 100 - historical 50–79.9 band
Structural adequacy /55
30.0
Serviceability /30
13.0
Essentiality /15
9.1
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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

Culvert
4/9
Poor (1–4)
Inventory Load Rating
88.9 t
NBI inventory level (metric tons)
Overall Condition
Poor

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

Structural Details

Year Built
1968
Material
Concrete
Number of Spans
7
Structure Length
25.9 m (85 ft)
Owner
State Highway Agency
Avg Daily Traffic
31,822 vehicles/day
Structure Number
009719

How to read this record

US 98 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 US 98 against other structures in Baldwin 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 US 98?

US 98 in Baldwin, Alabama on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.

How often is US 98 inspected?

US 98'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 31,822 vehicles per day.

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

FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. US 98 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 US 98?

US 98 has an NBI inventory load rating of 88.9 metric tons.

Who is responsible for maintaining US 98?

US 98 is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.

How old is US 98 and does age affect safety?

US 98 was built in 1968, making it 58 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.