FHWA NBI 2024 Inspection record Public-domain dataset

COW BAYOU RD

Carrying COW BAYOU RD over COW BAYOU

0.7 MI S of US 80, Madison, Louisiana

Data updated May 2026

FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.

Fair
23 t Inventory load rating

Bridge Snapshot: COW BAYOU RD

The COW BAYOU RD bridge in Madison, Louisiana carries COW BAYOU RD over COW BAYOU. It was built in 1992, making it 34 years old today. The structure is built primarily of concrete and spans 8 sections, stretching 44.5 meters (146 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 130 vehicles, placing it in the lower-traffic tier of Louisiana bridges. It is owned and maintained by County Highway Agency.

The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 6/9, superstructure at 6/9, substructure at 5/9. 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 22.7 metric tons.

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

How COW BAYOU RD compares

▼ 9.6
Load rating vs Louisiana average (32.3 t)
Bottom 23%
Lower load rating than 77% of Louisiana bridges
104
Bridges in Madison · 7 in Poor condition
COW BAYOU RD 22.7 t
Louisiana average 32.3 t

Live comparison across Louisiana.

Historical Sufficiency Rating

PlainBridge-computed
69.9 / 100 - historical 50–79.9 band
Structural adequacy /55
35.2
Serviceability /30
29.0
Essentiality /15
13.7
Special reductions
−8.0

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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
5/9
Fair (5–6)
Inventory Load Rating
22.7 t
NBI inventory level (metric tons)
Overall Condition
Fair

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

Structural Details

Year Built
1992
Material
Concrete
Number of Spans
8
Structure Length
44.5 m (146 ft)
Deck Width
9.3 m (31 ft)
Owner
County Highway Agency
Avg Daily Traffic
130 vehicles/day
Structure Number
053332268912771

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.
  • The substructure (piers and abutments) is in fair condition (5/9), with minor deterioration that may require routine maintenance.

How to read this record

This page shows what the last federal inspection recorded, not whether COW BAYOU RD 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 COW BAYOU RD against other structures in Madison and across Louisiana. Louisiana 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 COW BAYOU RD?

COW BAYOU RD in Madison, Louisiana has a deck rating of 6/9, superstructure rating of 6/9, and substructure rating of 5/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.

How often is COW BAYOU RD inspected?

COW BAYOU RD'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 130 vehicles per day.

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

FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. COW BAYOU RD 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 COW BAYOU RD?

COW BAYOU RD has an NBI inventory load rating of 22.7 metric tons.

Who is responsible for maintaining COW BAYOU RD?

COW BAYOU RD is owned and maintained by County Highway Agency.

How old is COW BAYOU RD and does age affect safety?

COW BAYOU RD was built in 1992, making it 34 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.