FHWA NBI 2024 Inspection record Public-domain dataset

AL 171

Carrying AL 171 over UNKNOWN BRANCH

1.5 MI N MT OLIVE RD, Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Data updated May 2026

FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.

Fair
26 t Inventory load rating

Bridge Snapshot: AL 171

The AL 171 bridge in Tuscaloosa, Alabama carries AL 171 over UNKNOWN BRANCH. It was built in 1979, making it 47 years old today. The structure is built primarily of concrete and spans 4 sections, stretching 20.7 meters (68 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 3,360 vehicles, placing it in the moderately-trafficked tier of Alabama bridges. It is owned and maintained by State 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 25.9 metric tons.

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

How AL 171 compares

▼ 12.4
Load rating vs Alabama average (38.3 t)
Bottom 26%
Lower load rating than 74% of Alabama bridges
406
Bridges in Tuscaloosa · 1 in Poor condition
AL 171 25.9 t
Alabama average 38.3 t

Live comparison across Alabama.

Historical Sufficiency Rating

PlainBridge-computed
70.0 / 100 - historical 50–79.9 band
Structural adequacy /55
49.6
Serviceability /30
13.0
Essentiality /15
8.4
Special reductions
−1.0

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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
25.9 t
NBI inventory level (metric tons)
Overall Condition
Fair

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

Structural Details

Year Built
1979
Material
Concrete
Number of Spans
4
Structure Length
20.7 m (68 ft)
Deck Width
8.6 m (28 ft)
Owner
State Highway Agency
Avg Daily Traffic
3,360 vehicles/day
Structure Number
012226

Condition Analysis

  • The deck (driving surface) is in fair condition (6/9), with minor deterioration that may require routine maintenance.
  • The superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) rates fair at 6/9, minor deterioration that routine maintenance should address.
  • At 6/9, 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 AL 171 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 AL 171 against other structures in Tuscaloosa 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 AL 171?

AL 171 in Tuscaloosa, 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 AL 171 inspected?

AL 171'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 3,360 vehicles per day.

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

FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. AL 171 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 AL 171?

AL 171 has an NBI inventory load rating of 25.9 metric tons.

Who is responsible for maintaining AL 171?

AL 171 is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.

How old is AL 171 and does age affect safety?

AL 171 was built in 1979, making it 47 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.