LA0480
Carrying LA0480 over SIMS BAYOU
3.7 MI. W OF INT LA3163, Natchitoches, Louisiana
Data updated May 2026
FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.
Bridge Snapshot: LA0480
The LA0480 bridge in Natchitoches, Louisiana carries LA0480 over SIMS BAYOU. It was built in 1982, making it 44 years old today. The structure is built primarily of concrete and spans 11 sections, stretching 67.1 meters (220 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 913 vehicles, placing it in the lower-traffic tier of Louisiana bridges. It is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.
The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 7/9, superstructure at 7/9, 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 40.8 metric tons.
Sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for refresh cadence and NBI release vintage.
How LA0480 compares
Live comparison across Louisiana.
Historical Sufficiency Rating
PlainBridge-computedFHWA discontinued this calculated item; it does not determine current condition, funding eligibility, posting, or closure. How the historical reference is calculated.
Condition Ratings
Full 0–9 scale + sufficiency-rating breakdown: how condition ratings work.
Structural Details
- Year Built
- 1982
- Material
- Concrete
- Number of Spans
- 11
- Structure Length
- 67.1 m (220 ft)
- Deck Width
- 10.0 m (33 ft)
- Owner
- State Highway Agency
- Avg Daily Traffic
- 913 vehicles/day
- Structure Number
- 083503050200881
Location
Data Source
FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI).
FHWA NBI Program ↗Condition Analysis
- • The deck (driving surface) is in good condition (7/9), showing no significant deterioration.
- • At 7/9, the superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) is in good shape and shows no significant wear.
- • At 6/9, the substructure (piers and abutments) shows fair condition, with minor wear flagged for upkeep.
How to read this record
This page shows what the last federal inspection recorded, not whether LA0480 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 LA0480 against other structures in Natchitoches 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 LA0480?
LA0480 in Natchitoches, Louisiana has a deck rating of 7/9, superstructure rating of 7/9, and substructure rating of 6/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.
How often is LA0480 inspected?
LA0480'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 913 vehicles per day.
What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?
FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. LA0480 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 LA0480?
LA0480 has an NBI inventory load rating of 40.8 metric tons.
Who is responsible for maintaining LA0480?
LA0480 is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.
How old is LA0480 and does age affect safety?
LA0480 was built in 1982, making it 44 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.
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.