JAMES STREET
Carrying JAMES STREET over WHATCOM CREEK
0.06 N JCT MEADOR AVE, Whatcom, Washington
Data updated May 2026
FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.
Bridge Snapshot: JAMES STREET
The JAMES STREET bridge in Whatcom, Washington carries JAMES STREET over WHATCOM CREEK. It was built in 1936, making it 90 years old today. It was last reconstructed in 1962, extending its service life. The structure is built primarily of concrete and spans 3 sections, stretching 17.1 meters (56 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 7,000 vehicles, placing it in the moderately-trafficked tier of Washington bridges. It is owned and maintained by City/Municipal Highway Agency.
The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 5/9, superstructure at 5/9, substructure at 3/9. 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 22.7 metric tons.
Sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for refresh cadence and NBI release vintage.
How JAMES STREET compares
Live comparison across Washington.
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
- 1936
- Last Reconstructed
- 1962
- Material
- Concrete
- Number of Spans
- 3
- Structure Length
- 17.1 m (56 ft)
- Deck Width
- 9.1 m (30 ft)
- Owner
- City/Municipal Highway Agency
- Avg Daily Traffic
- 7,000 vehicles/day
- Structure Number
- 085507000000000
Location
Data Source
FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI).
FHWA NBI Program ↗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.
- • The substructure (piers and abutments) is in poor condition (3/9), showing advanced deterioration that may require priority repair.
How to read this record
JAMES STREET 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 JAMES STREET against other structures in Whatcom and across Washington. Washington 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 JAMES STREET?
JAMES STREET in Whatcom, Washington has a deck rating of 5/9, superstructure rating of 5/9, and substructure rating of 3/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.
How often is JAMES STREET inspected?
JAMES STREET'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 7,000 vehicles per day.
What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?
FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. JAMES STREET 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 JAMES STREET?
JAMES STREET has an NBI inventory load rating of 22.7 metric tons.
Who is responsible for maintaining JAMES STREET?
JAMES STREET is owned and maintained by City/Municipal Highway Agency.
How old is JAMES STREET and does age affect safety?
JAMES STREET was built in 1936, making it 90 years old and last reconstructed in 1962.
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.