FHWA NBI 2024 Inspection record Public-domain dataset

US 40

Carrying US 40 over DEWEY BRANCH

03.35 W SR 243, Putnam, Indiana

Data updated May 2026

FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.

Fair
53 t Inventory load rating

Bridge Snapshot: US 40

The US 40 bridge in Putnam, Indiana carries US 40 over DEWEY BRANCH. It was built in 1940, making it 86 years old today. The structure is built primarily of concrete and spans 1 section, stretching 12.8 meters (42 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 6,907 vehicles, placing it in the moderately-trafficked tier of Indiana bridges. It is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.

The latest FHWA inspection records show 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 52.9 metric tons.

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

How US 40 compares

▲ 17.3
Load rating vs Indiana average (35.6 t)
Top 7%
Higher load rating than 93% of Indiana bridges
284
Bridges in Putnam · 52 in Poor condition
US 40 52.9 t
Indiana average 35.6 t

Live comparison across Indiana.

Historical Sufficiency Rating

PlainBridge-computed
94.8 / 100 - historical 80–100 band
Structural adequacy /55
55.0
Serviceability /30
30.0
Essentiality /15
11.8
Special reductions
−2.0

FHWA discontinued this calculated item; it does not determine current condition, funding eligibility, posting, or closure. How the historical reference is calculated.

Condition Ratings

Superstructure
6/9
Fair (5–6)
Substructure
6/9
Fair (5–6)
Inventory Load Rating
52.9 t
NBI inventory level (metric tons)
Overall Condition
Fair

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

Structural Details

Year Built
1940
Material
Concrete
Number of Spans
1
Structure Length
12.8 m (42 ft)
Deck Width
28.7 m (94 ft)
Owner
State Highway Agency
Avg Daily Traffic
6,907 vehicles/day
Structure Number
013690

Condition Analysis

  • The superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) is in fair condition (6/9), with minor deterioration that may require routine maintenance.
  • 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 US 40 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 US 40 against other structures in Putnam and across Indiana. Indiana 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 40?

US 40 in Putnam, Indiana, superstructure rating of 6/9, and substructure rating of 6/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.

How often is US 40 inspected?

US 40'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 6,907 vehicles per day.

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

FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. US 40 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 US 40?

US 40 has an NBI inventory load rating of 52.9 metric tons.

Who is responsible for maintaining US 40?

US 40 is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.

How old is US 40 and does age affect safety?

US 40 was built in 1940, making it 86 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.