FHWA NBI 2024 Inspection record Public-domain dataset

FAI 70 WB

Carrying FAI 70 WB over WENDELL BRANCH

1.6 M E FAI 55, Madison, Illinois

Data updated May 2026

FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.

Fair
33 t Inventory load rating

Bridge Snapshot: FAI 70 WB

The FAI 70 WB bridge in Madison, Illinois carries FAI 70 WB over WENDELL BRANCH. It was built in 1965, making it 61 years old today. The structure is built primarily of steel continuous and spans 3 sections, stretching 49.4 meters (162 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 15,300 vehicles, placing it in the heavily-trafficked tier of Illinois bridges. It is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.

The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 7/9, superstructure at 6/9, substructure at 6/9. The weakest component sits in fair condition. None of this bridge's reported major components fall into the Poor condition range. Its NBI inventory load rating is 33.4 metric tons.

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

How FAI 70 WB compares

▼ 1.2
Load rating vs Illinois average (34.6 t)
Top 33%
Higher load rating than 67% of Illinois bridges
543
Bridges in Madison · 35 in Poor condition
FAI 70 WB 33.4 t
Illinois average 34.6 t

Live comparison across Illinois.

Historical Sufficiency Rating

PlainBridge-computed
91.5 / 100 - historical 80–100 band
Structural adequacy /55
55.0
Serviceability /30
25.0
Essentiality /15
11.5
Special reductions
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
6/9
Fair (5–6)
Substructure
6/9
Fair (5–6)
Inventory Load Rating
33.4 t
NBI inventory level (metric tons)
Overall Condition
Fair

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

Structural Details

Year Built
1965
Material
Steel Continuous
Number of Spans
3
Structure Length
49.4 m (162 ft)
Deck Width
12.8 m (42 ft)
Owner
State Highway Agency
Avg Daily Traffic
15,300 vehicles/day
Structure Number
060002400000000

Condition Analysis

  • At 7/9, the deck (driving surface) is in good shape and shows no significant wear.
  • The superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) is in fair condition (6/9), with minor deterioration that may require routine maintenance.
  • The substructure (piers and abutments) rates fair at 6/9, minor deterioration that routine maintenance should address.

How to read this record

This page shows what the last federal inspection recorded, not whether FAI 70 WB 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 FAI 70 WB against other structures in Madison and across Illinois. Illinois 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 FAI 70 WB?

FAI 70 WB in Madison, Illinois has a deck rating of 7/9, superstructure rating of 6/9, and substructure rating of 6/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.

How often is FAI 70 WB inspected?

FAI 70 WB'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 15,300 vehicles per day.

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

FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. FAI 70 WB 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 FAI 70 WB?

FAI 70 WB has an NBI inventory load rating of 33.4 metric tons.

Who is responsible for maintaining FAI 70 WB?

FAI 70 WB is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.

How old is FAI 70 WB and does age affect safety?

FAI 70 WB was built in 1965, making it 61 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.