FHWA NBI 2024 Inspection record Public-domain dataset

US 271

Carrying US 271 over WALSH CREEK

0.3 MI W OF SH 155, Smith, Texas

Data updated May 2026

FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.

Fair
24 t Inventory load rating

Bridge Snapshot: US 271

The US 271 bridge in Smith, Texas carries US 271 over WALSH CREEK. It was built in 1936, making it 90 years old today. It was last reconstructed in 2000, extending its service life. The structure is built primarily of concrete and spans 6 sections, stretching 12.5 meters (41 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 21,262 vehicles, placing it in the heavily-trafficked tier of Texas bridges. It is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.

The latest FHWA inspection records show culvert 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 23.6 metric tons.

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

How US 271 compares

▼ 4.7
Load rating vs Texas average (28.3 t)
Bottom 4%
Lower load rating than 96% of Texas bridges
427
Bridges in Smith · 6 in Poor condition
US 271 23.6 t
Texas average 28.3 t

Live comparison across Texas.

Historical Sufficiency Rating

PlainBridge-computed
61.3 / 100 - historical 50–79.9 band
Structural adequacy /55
46.5
Serviceability /30
14.0
Essentiality /15
3.8
Special reductions
−3.0

FHWA discontinued this calculated item; it does not determine current condition, funding eligibility, posting, or closure. How the historical reference is calculated.

Condition Ratings

Culvert
6/9
Fair (5–6)
Inventory Load Rating
23.6 t
NBI inventory level (metric tons)
Overall Condition
Fair

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

Structural Details

Year Built
1936
Last Reconstructed
2000
Material
Concrete
Number of Spans
6
Structure Length
12.5 m (41 ft)
Owner
State Highway Agency
Avg Daily Traffic
21,262 vehicles/day
Structure Number
102120016501019

How to read this record

This page shows what the last federal inspection recorded, not whether US 271 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 US 271 against other structures in Smith and across Texas. Texas 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 US 271?

US 271 in Smith, Texas on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.

How often is US 271 inspected?

US 271'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 21,262 vehicles per day.

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

FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. US 271 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 US 271?

US 271 has an NBI inventory load rating of 23.6 metric tons.

Who is responsible for maintaining US 271?

US 271 is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.

How old is US 271 and does age affect safety?

US 271 was built in 1936, making it 90 years old and last reconstructed in 2000.

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.