US 278 WEST BOUND
Carrying US 278 WEST BOUND over BIG COVE CREEK
US 278 @ BIG COVE CREEK, Etowah, Alabama
Data updated May 2026
FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.
Bridge Snapshot: US 278 WEST BOUND
The US 278 WEST BOUND bridge in Etowah, Alabama carries US 278 WEST BOUND over BIG COVE CREEK. It was built in 1998, making it 28 years old today. The structure is built primarily of prestressed concrete and spans 5 sections, stretching 106.7 meters (350 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 6,672 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 7/9, superstructure at 7/9, substructure at 7/9. The weakest component sits in good condition. No reported major component scores in the Poor range under the current federal condition thresholds. Its NBI inventory load rating is 49.9 metric tons.
Sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for refresh cadence and NBI release vintage.
How US 278 WEST BOUND compares
Live comparison across Alabama.
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
- 1998
- Material
- Prestressed Concrete
- Number of Spans
- 5
- Structure Length
- 106.7 m (350 ft)
- Deck Width
- 13.0 m (43 ft)
- Owner
- State Highway Agency
- Avg Daily Traffic
- 6,672 vehicles/day
- Structure Number
- 016385
Location
Data Source
FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI).
FHWA NBI Program ↗Condition Analysis
- • The deck (driving surface) is in good condition (7/9), showing no significant deterioration.
- • At 7/9, the superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) is in good shape and shows no significant wear.
- • The substructure (piers and abutments) rates good at 7/9, with no significant deterioration on file.
How to read this record
This page shows what the last federal inspection recorded, not whether US 278 WEST BOUND 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 278 WEST BOUND against other structures in Etowah 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 278 WEST BOUND?
US 278 WEST BOUND in Etowah, Alabama has a deck rating of 7/9, superstructure rating of 7/9, and substructure rating of 7/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.
How often is US 278 WEST BOUND inspected?
US 278 WEST BOUND'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 6,672 vehicles per day.
What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?
FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. US 278 WEST BOUND is currently shown as Good condition from its component ratings; that category is not a live closure or safety decision.
What is the inventory load rating for US 278 WEST BOUND?
US 278 WEST BOUND has an NBI inventory load rating of 49.9 metric tons.
Who is responsible for maintaining US 278 WEST BOUND?
US 278 WEST BOUND is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.
How old is US 278 WEST BOUND and does age affect safety?
US 278 WEST BOUND was built in 1998, making it 28 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.