FHWA NBI 2024 Inspection record Public-domain dataset

HOWELL ROAD

Carrying HOWELL ROAD over CANE CREEK

.6 MI N OF JCT KY 1070, Hickman, Kentucky

Data updated May 2026

FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.

Fair
40 t Inventory load rating

Bridge Snapshot: HOWELL ROAD

The HOWELL ROAD bridge in Hickman, Kentucky carries HOWELL ROAD over CANE CREEK. It was built in 1987, making it 39 years old today. The structure is built primarily of prestressed concrete and spans 1 section, stretching 12.2 meters (40 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 32 vehicles, placing it in the lower-traffic tier of Kentucky bridges. It is owned and maintained by County Highway Agency.

The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 6/9, superstructure at 7/9, substructure at 5/9. The weakest component sits in fair condition. All reported major components score above the Poor range. Its NBI inventory load rating is 39.6 metric tons.

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

How HOWELL ROAD compares

▲ 0.4
Load rating vs Kentucky average (39.2 t)
Bottom 48%
Lower load rating than 52% of Kentucky bridges
123
Bridges in Hickman · 11 in Poor condition
HOWELL ROAD 39.6 t
Kentucky average 39.2 t

Live comparison across Kentucky.

Historical Sufficiency Rating

PlainBridge-computed
83.0 / 100 - historical 80–100 band
Structural adequacy /55
45.0
Serviceability /30
26.0
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
6/9
Fair (5–6)
Superstructure
7/9
Good (7–9)
Substructure
5/9
Fair (5–6)
Inventory Load Rating
39.6 t
NBI inventory level (metric tons)
Overall Condition
Fair

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

Structural Details

Year Built
1987
Material
Prestressed Concrete
Number of Spans
1
Structure Length
12.2 m (40 ft)
Deck Width
6.5 m (21 ft)
Owner
County Highway Agency
Avg Daily Traffic
32 vehicles/day
Structure Number
053C00046N

Condition Analysis

  • The deck (driving surface) rates fair at 6/9, minor deterioration that routine maintenance should address.
  • The superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) rates good at 7/9, with no significant deterioration on file.
  • 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 HOWELL ROAD 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 HOWELL ROAD against other structures in Hickman 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 HOWELL ROAD?

HOWELL ROAD in Hickman, Kentucky has a deck rating of 6/9, superstructure rating of 7/9, and substructure rating of 5/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.

How often is HOWELL ROAD inspected?

HOWELL ROAD'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 32 vehicles per day.

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

FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. HOWELL ROAD 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 HOWELL ROAD?

HOWELL ROAD has an NBI inventory load rating of 39.6 metric tons.

Who is responsible for maintaining HOWELL ROAD?

HOWELL ROAD is owned and maintained by County Highway Agency.

How old is HOWELL ROAD and does age affect safety?

HOWELL ROAD was built in 1987, making it 39 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.