FHWA NBI 2024 Inspection record Public-domain dataset

TOPSY BEL RD

Carrying TOPSY BEL RD over BARNES CREEK

3.7 MI. S. OF US 190, Allen, Louisiana

Data updated May 2026

FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.

Poor
18 t Inventory load rating

Bridge Snapshot: TOPSY BEL RD

The TOPSY BEL RD bridge in Allen, Louisiana carries TOPSY BEL RD over BARNES CREEK. It was built in 1972, making it 54 years old today. The structure is built primarily of concrete and spans 13 sections, stretching 75.3 meters (247 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 664 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 5/9, superstructure at 5/9, substructure at 4/9. The weakest component sits in poor condition. Because at least one major component scores 4 or lower, this bridge falls in FHWA's Poor condition category. That category is not a closure order. Its NBI inventory load rating is 17.8 metric tons.

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

How TOPSY BEL RD compares

▼ 14.5
Load rating vs Louisiana average (32.3 t)
Bottom 11%
Lower load rating than 89% of Louisiana bridges
178
Bridges in Allen · 22 in Poor condition
TOPSY BEL RD 17.8 t
Louisiana average 32.3 t

Live comparison across Louisiana.

Historical Sufficiency Rating

PlainBridge-computed
30.0 / 100 - historical 20–49.9 band
Structural adequacy /55
11.8
Serviceability /30
6.0
Essentiality /15
12.2
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
5/9
Fair (5–6)
Superstructure
5/9
Fair (5–6)
Substructure
4/9
Poor (1–4)
Inventory Load Rating
17.8 t
NBI inventory level (metric tons)
Overall Condition
Poor

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

Structural Details

Year Built
1972
Material
Concrete
Number of Spans
13
Structure Length
75.3 m (247 ft)
Deck Width
7.0 m (23 ft)
Owner
County Highway Agency
Avg Daily Traffic
664 vehicles/day
Structure Number
070230281930551

Condition Analysis

  • The deck (driving surface) is in fair condition (5/9), with minor deterioration that may require routine maintenance.
  • The superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) is in fair condition (5/9), with minor deterioration that may require routine maintenance.
  • At 4/9, the substructure (piers and abutments) is in poor shape, with advanced wear flagged for priority repair.

How to read this record

TOPSY BEL RD 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 TOPSY BEL RD against other structures in Allen 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 TOPSY BEL RD?

TOPSY BEL RD in Allen, Louisiana has a deck rating of 5/9, superstructure rating of 5/9, and substructure rating of 4/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.

How often is TOPSY BEL RD inspected?

TOPSY BEL 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 664 vehicles per day.

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

FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. TOPSY BEL RD 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 TOPSY BEL RD?

TOPSY BEL RD has an NBI inventory load rating of 17.8 metric tons.

Who is responsible for maintaining TOPSY BEL RD?

TOPSY BEL RD is owned and maintained by County Highway Agency.

How old is TOPSY BEL RD and does age affect safety?

TOPSY BEL RD was built in 1972, making it 54 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.