FHWA NBI 2024 Inspection record Public-domain dataset

Thunderbird Road

Carrying Thunderbird Road over AZ Cnl Diversion Channel

0.1 mi W Jct 59th Ave, Maricopa, Arizona

Data updated May 2026

FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.

Fair
33 t Inventory load rating

Bridge Snapshot: Thunderbird Road

The Thunderbird Road bridge in Maricopa, Arizona carries Thunderbird Road over AZ Cnl Diversion Channel. It was built in 1984, making it 42 years old today. The structure is built primarily of prestressed concrete continuous and spans 4 sections, stretching 150.3 meters (493 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 28,315 vehicles, placing it in the heavily-trafficked tier of Arizona bridges. It is owned and maintained by City/Municipal Highway Agency.

The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 6/9, superstructure at 7/9, substructure at 6/9. The weakest component sits in fair condition. All reported major components score above the Poor range. Its NBI inventory load rating is 32.7 metric tons.

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

How Thunderbird Road compares

▼ 14.7
Load rating vs Arizona average (47.4 t)
Bottom 27%
Lower load rating than 73% of Arizona bridges
2,203
Bridges in Maricopa · 3 in Poor condition
Thunderbird Road 32.7 t
Arizona average 47.4 t

Live comparison across Arizona.

Historical Sufficiency Rating

PlainBridge-computed
80.7 / 100 - historical 80–100 band
Structural adequacy /55
55.0
Serviceability /30
14.0
Essentiality /15
11.7
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
6/9
Fair (5–6)
Superstructure
7/9
Good (7–9)
Substructure
6/9
Fair (5–6)
Inventory Load Rating
32.7 t
NBI inventory level (metric tons)
Overall Condition
Fair

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

Structural Details

Year Built
1984
Material
Prestressed Concrete Continuous
Number of Spans
4
Structure Length
150.3 m (493 ft)
Deck Width
25.2 m (83 ft)
Owner
City/Municipal Highway Agency
Avg Daily Traffic
28,315 vehicles/day
Structure Number
09887

Condition Analysis

  • The deck (driving surface) is in fair condition (6/9), with minor deterioration that may require routine maintenance.
  • 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) 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 Thunderbird Road 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 Thunderbird Road against other structures in Maricopa and across Arizona. Arizona 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 Thunderbird Road?

Thunderbird Road in Maricopa, Arizona has a deck rating of 6/9, superstructure rating of 7/9, and substructure rating of 6/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.

How often is Thunderbird Road inspected?

Thunderbird Road'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 28,315 vehicles per day.

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

FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. Thunderbird Road 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 Thunderbird Road?

Thunderbird Road has an NBI inventory load rating of 32.7 metric tons.

Who is responsible for maintaining Thunderbird Road?

Thunderbird Road is owned and maintained by City/Municipal Highway Agency.

How old is Thunderbird Road and does age affect safety?

Thunderbird Road was built in 1984, making it 42 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.