FHWA NBI 2024 Inspection record Public-domain dataset

FOULK RD/SR261

Carrying FOULK RD/SR261 over SOUTH BRANCH NAAMANS CK

NORTH OF WILMINGTON, New Castle, Delaware

Data updated May 2026

FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.

Fair
68 t Inventory load rating

Bridge Snapshot: FOULK RD/SR261

The FOULK RD/SR261 bridge in New Castle, Delaware carries FOULK RD/SR261 over SOUTH BRANCH NAAMANS CK. It was built in 1965, making it 61 years old today. It was last reconstructed in 2016, extending its service life. The structure is built primarily of prestressed concrete and spans 1 section, stretching 9.0 meters (30 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 14,252 vehicles, placing it in the heavily-trafficked tier of Delaware bridges. It is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.

The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 7/9, 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 67.7 metric tons.

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

How FOULK RD/SR261 compares

▲ 28.2
Load rating vs Delaware average (39.5 t)
Top 4%
Higher load rating than 96% of Delaware bridges
533
Bridges in New Castle · 5 in Poor condition
FOULK RD/SR261 67.7 t
Delaware average 39.5 t

Live comparison across Delaware.

Historical Sufficiency Rating

PlainBridge-computed
79.2 / 100 - historical 50–79.9 band
Structural adequacy /55
55.0
Serviceability /30
13.0
Essentiality /15
14.2
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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

Deck
7/9
Good (7–9)
Superstructure
7/9
Good (7–9)
Substructure
6/9
Fair (5–6)
Inventory Load Rating
67.7 t
NBI inventory level (metric tons)
Overall Condition
Fair

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

Structural Details

Year Built
1965
Last Reconstructed
2016
Material
Prestressed Concrete
Number of Spans
1
Structure Length
9.0 m (30 ft)
Deck Width
19.1 m (63 ft)
Owner
State Highway Agency
Avg Daily Traffic
14,252 vehicles/day
Structure Number
1032 203

Condition Analysis

  • The deck (driving surface) is in good condition (7/9), showing no significant deterioration.
  • The superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) is in good condition (7/9), showing no significant deterioration.
  • The substructure (piers and abutments) is in fair condition (6/9), with minor deterioration that may require routine maintenance.

How to read this record

This page shows what the last federal inspection recorded, not whether FOULK RD/SR261 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 FOULK RD/SR261 against other structures in New Castle and across Delaware. Delaware 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 FOULK RD/SR261?

FOULK RD/SR261 in New Castle, Delaware has a deck rating of 7/9, superstructure rating of 7/9, and substructure rating of 6/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.

How often is FOULK RD/SR261 inspected?

FOULK RD/SR261'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 14,252 vehicles per day.

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

FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. FOULK RD/SR261 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 FOULK RD/SR261?

FOULK RD/SR261 has an NBI inventory load rating of 67.7 metric tons.

Who is responsible for maintaining FOULK RD/SR261?

FOULK RD/SR261 is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.

How old is FOULK RD/SR261 and does age affect safety?

FOULK RD/SR261 was built in 1965, making it 61 years old and last reconstructed in 2016.

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.