IL 53
Carrying IL 53 over DES PLAINES RIVER
1.2 MI S IL 7, Will, Illinois
Data updated May 2026
FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.
Bridge Snapshot: IL 53
The IL 53 bridge in Will, Illinois carries IL 53 over DES PLAINES RIVER. It was built in 1935, making it 91 years old today. It was last reconstructed in 2002, extending its service life. The structure is built primarily of steel and spans 1 section, stretching 120.7 meters (396 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 21,300 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 5/9, superstructure at 4/9, substructure at 5/9. The weakest component sits in poor condition. At least one major component here scores 4 or below, which produces a Poor condition classification under FHWA's current reporting rules. Its NBI inventory load rating is 27.2 metric tons.
Sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for refresh cadence and NBI release vintage.
How IL 53 compares
Live comparison across Illinois.
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
- 1935
- Last Reconstructed
- 2002
- Material
- Steel
- Number of Spans
- 1
- Structure Length
- 120.7 m (396 ft)
- Deck Width
- 19.5 m (64 ft)
- Owner
- State Highway Agency
- Avg Daily Traffic
- 21,300 vehicles/day
- Structure Number
- 099990100000000
Location
Data Source
FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI).
FHWA NBI Program ↗Condition Analysis
- • At 5/9, the deck (driving surface) shows fair condition, with minor wear flagged for upkeep.
- • At 4/9, the superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) is in poor shape, with advanced wear flagged for priority repair.
- • The substructure (piers and abutments) is in fair condition (5/9), with minor deterioration that may require routine maintenance.
How to read this record
IL 53 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 IL 53 against other structures in Will 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 IL 53?
IL 53 in Will, Illinois has a deck rating of 5/9, superstructure rating of 4/9, and substructure rating of 5/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.
How often is IL 53 inspected?
IL 53'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 21,300 vehicles per day.
What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?
FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. IL 53 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 IL 53?
IL 53 has an NBI inventory load rating of 27.2 metric tons.
Who is responsible for maintaining IL 53?
IL 53 is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.
How old is IL 53 and does age affect safety?
IL 53 was built in 1935, making it 91 years old and last reconstructed in 2002.
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.