KY 38
Carrying KY 38 over Fanny Wynn Branch
_Milepost 19.810, Harlan, Kentucky
Data updated May 2026
FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.
Bridge Snapshot: KY 38
The KY 38 bridge in Harlan, Kentucky carries KY 38 over Fanny Wynn Branch. It was built in 1956, making it 70 years old today. The structure is built primarily of masonry and spans 2 sections, stretching 12.8 meters (42 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 621 vehicles, placing it in the lower-traffic tier of Kentucky bridges. It is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.
The latest FHWA inspection records show culvert at 3/9. The weakest component sits in poor condition. A component scored 4 or below, placing this bridge in the federal Poor condition category rather than declaring it unsafe or closed. Its NBI inventory load rating is 9.1 metric tons.
Sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for refresh cadence and NBI release vintage.
How KY 38 compares
Live comparison across Kentucky.
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
- 1956
- Material
- Masonry
- Number of Spans
- 2
- Structure Length
- 12.8 m (42 ft)
- Owner
- State Highway Agency
- Avg Daily Traffic
- 621 vehicles/day
- Structure Number
- 048B00197N
Location
Data Source
FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI).
FHWA NBI Program ↗How to read this record
KY 38 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 KY 38 against other structures in Harlan and across Kentucky. Kentucky 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 KY 38?
KY 38 in Harlan, Kentucky on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.
How often is KY 38 inspected?
KY 38'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 621 vehicles per day.
What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?
FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. KY 38 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 KY 38?
KY 38 has an NBI inventory load rating of 9.1 metric tons.
Who is responsible for maintaining KY 38?
KY 38 is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.
How old is KY 38 and does age affect safety?
KY 38 was built in 1956, making it 70 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.