FHWA NBI 2024 Inspection record Public-domain dataset

NFA A972

Carrying NFA A972 over STONEY CREEK

S OF 91-NE PART OF COUNTY, Carter, Tennessee

Data updated May 2026

FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.

Poor
37 t Inventory load rating

Bridge Snapshot: NFA A972

The NFA A972 bridge in Carter, Tennessee carries NFA A972 over STONEY CREEK. It was built in 1984, making it 42 years old today. The structure is built primarily of prestressed concrete and spans 1 section, stretching 13.1 meters (43 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 210 vehicles, placing it in the lower-traffic tier of Tennessee bridges. It is owned and maintained by County Highway Agency.

The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 5/9, superstructure at 4/9, substructure at 6/9. 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 36.6 metric tons.

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

How NFA A972 compares

▲ 7.1
Load rating vs Tennessee average (29.5 t)
Top 3%
Higher load rating than 97% of Tennessee bridges
195
Bridges in Carter · 24 in Poor condition
NFA A972 36.6 t
Tennessee average 29.5 t

Live comparison across Tennessee.

Historical Sufficiency Rating

PlainBridge-computed
59.2 / 100 - historical 50–79.9 band
Structural adequacy /55
30.0
Serviceability /30
15.3
Essentiality /15
14.9
Special reductions
−1.0

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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
4/9
Poor (1–4)
Substructure
6/9
Fair (5–6)
Inventory Load Rating
36.6 t
NBI inventory level (metric tons)
Overall Condition
Poor

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

Structural Details

Year Built
1984
Material
Prestressed Concrete
Number of Spans
1
Structure Length
13.1 m (43 ft)
Deck Width
7.8 m (26 ft)
Owner
County Highway Agency
Avg Daily Traffic
210 vehicles/day
Structure Number
100A9720001

Condition Analysis

  • At 5/9, the deck (driving surface) shows fair condition, with minor wear flagged for upkeep.
  • The superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) rates poor at 4/9, advanced deterioration that should be prioritized for repair.
  • The substructure (piers and abutments) rates fair at 6/9, minor deterioration that routine maintenance should address.

How to read this record

NFA A972 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 NFA A972 against other structures in Carter and across Tennessee. Tennessee 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 NFA A972?

NFA A972 in Carter, Tennessee has a deck rating of 5/9, superstructure rating of 4/9, and substructure rating of 6/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.

How often is NFA A972 inspected?

NFA A972'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 210 vehicles per day.

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

FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. NFA A972 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 NFA A972?

NFA A972 has an NBI inventory load rating of 36.6 metric tons.

Who is responsible for maintaining NFA A972?

NFA A972 is owned and maintained by County Highway Agency.

How old is NFA A972 and does age affect safety?

NFA A972 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.