FHWA NBI 2024 Inspection record Public-domain dataset

McCURDY GULCH

Carrying McCURDY GULCH over RAPID CREEK

T 1 N R 5 E SEC 2, Pennington, South Dakota

Data updated May 2026

FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.

Poor
30 t Inventory load rating

Bridge Snapshot: McCURDY GULCH

The McCURDY GULCH bridge in Pennington, South Dakota carries McCURDY GULCH over RAPID CREEK. It was built in 1945, making it 81 years old today. It was last reconstructed in 1985, extending its service life. The structure is built primarily of wood or timber and spans 1 section, stretching 10.0 meters (33 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 10 vehicles, placing it in the lower-traffic tier of South Dakota bridges. It is owned and maintained by U.S. Forest Service.

The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 7/9, superstructure at 7/9, substructure 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 30.1 metric tons.

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

How McCURDY GULCH compares

▼ 2.4
Load rating vs South Dakota average (32.5 t)
Top 43%
Higher load rating than 57% of South Dakota bridges
350
Bridges in Pennington · 26 in Poor condition
McCURDY GULCH 30.1 t
South Dakota average 32.5 t

Live comparison across South Dakota.

Historical Sufficiency Rating

PlainBridge-computed
68.9 / 100 - historical 50–79.9 band
Structural adequacy /55
28.9
Serviceability /30
28.0
Essentiality /15
15.0
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
7/9
Good (7–9)
Superstructure
7/9
Good (7–9)
Substructure
4/9
Poor (1–4)
Inventory Load Rating
30.1 t
NBI inventory level (metric tons)
Overall Condition
Poor

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

Structural Details

Year Built
1945
Last Reconstructed
1985
Material
Wood or Timber
Number of Spans
1
Structure Length
10.0 m (33 ft)
Deck Width
7.3 m (24 ft)
Owner
U.S. Forest Service
Avg Daily Traffic
10 vehicles/day
Structure Number
020306000010011

Condition Analysis

  • The deck (driving surface) rates good at 7/9, with no significant deterioration on file.
  • The superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) is in good condition (7/9), showing no significant deterioration.
  • At 4/9, the substructure (piers and abutments) is in poor shape, with advanced wear flagged for priority repair.

How to read this record

McCURDY GULCH 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 McCURDY GULCH against other structures in Pennington and across South Dakota. South Dakota 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 McCURDY GULCH?

McCURDY GULCH in Pennington, South Dakota has a deck rating of 7/9, superstructure rating of 7/9, and substructure rating of 4/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.

How often is McCURDY GULCH inspected?

McCURDY GULCH'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 10 vehicles per day.

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

FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. McCURDY GULCH 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 McCURDY GULCH?

McCURDY GULCH has an NBI inventory load rating of 30.1 metric tons.

Who is responsible for maintaining McCURDY GULCH?

McCURDY GULCH is owned and maintained by U.S. Forest Service.

How old is McCURDY GULCH and does age affect safety?

McCURDY GULCH was built in 1945, making it 81 years old and last reconstructed in 1985.

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.