FHWA NBI 2024 Inspection record Public-domain dataset

RICHARDSON HIGHWAY

Carrying RICHARDSON HIGHWAY over BEAR CREEK

MILE POINT 236.1, Southeast Fairbanks, Alaska

Data updated May 2026

FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.

Poor
22 t Inventory load rating

Bridge Snapshot: RICHARDSON HIGHWAY

The RICHARDSON HIGHWAY bridge in Southeast Fairbanks, Alaska carries RICHARDSON HIGHWAY over BEAR CREEK. It was built in 1952, making it 74 years old today. The structure is built primarily of steel and spans 1 section, stretching 15.7 meters (52 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 240 vehicles, placing it in the lower-traffic tier of Alaska bridges. It is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.

The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 4/9, superstructure at 7/9, substructure at 5/9. 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 22.3 metric tons.

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

How RICHARDSON HIGHWAY compares

▼ 12.5
Load rating vs Alaska average (34.8 t)
Bottom 26%
Lower load rating than 74% of Alaska bridges
32
Bridges in Southeast Fairbanks · 6 in Poor condition
RICHARDSON HIGHWAY 22.3 t
Alaska average 34.8 t

Live comparison across Alaska.

Historical Sufficiency Rating

PlainBridge-computed
52.5 / 100 - historical 50–79.9 band
Structural adequacy /55
34.6
Serviceability /30
15.7
Essentiality /15
9.2
Special reductions
−7.0

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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
4/9
Poor (1–4)
Superstructure
7/9
Good (7–9)
Substructure
5/9
Fair (5–6)
Inventory Load Rating
22.3 t
NBI inventory level (metric tons)
Overall Condition
Poor

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

Structural Details

Year Built
1952
Material
Steel
Number of Spans
1
Structure Length
15.7 m (52 ft)
Deck Width
7.7 m (25 ft)
Owner
State Highway Agency
Avg Daily Traffic
240 vehicles/day
Structure Number
0593

Condition Analysis

  • The deck (driving surface) rates poor at 4/9, advanced deterioration that should be prioritized for repair.
  • 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) is in fair condition (5/9), with minor deterioration that may require routine maintenance.

How to read this record

RICHARDSON HIGHWAY 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 RICHARDSON HIGHWAY against other structures in Southeast Fairbanks and across Alaska. Alaska 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 RICHARDSON HIGHWAY?

RICHARDSON HIGHWAY in Southeast Fairbanks, Alaska has a deck rating of 4/9, superstructure rating of 7/9, and substructure rating of 5/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.

How often is RICHARDSON HIGHWAY inspected?

RICHARDSON HIGHWAY'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 240 vehicles per day.

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

FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. RICHARDSON HIGHWAY 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 RICHARDSON HIGHWAY?

RICHARDSON HIGHWAY has an NBI inventory load rating of 22.3 metric tons.

Who is responsible for maintaining RICHARDSON HIGHWAY?

RICHARDSON HIGHWAY is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.

How old is RICHARDSON HIGHWAY and does age affect safety?

RICHARDSON HIGHWAY was built in 1952, making it 74 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.