FHWA NBI 2024 Inspection record Public-domain dataset

KY 55

Carrying KY 55 over SALT RIVER

0.25 MI S OF KY 44, Spencer, Kentucky

Data updated May 2026

FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.

Good
50 t Inventory load rating

Bridge Snapshot: KY 55

The KY 55 bridge in Spencer, Kentucky carries KY 55 over SALT RIVER. It was built in 2016, making it 10 years old today. The structure is built primarily of prestressed concrete continuous and spans 3 sections, stretching 101.5 meters (333 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 3,438 vehicles, placing it in the moderately-trafficked tier of Kentucky 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 7/9. The weakest component sits in good condition. No reported major component scores in the Poor range under the current federal condition thresholds. Its NBI inventory load rating is 50.2 metric tons.

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

How KY 55 compares

▲ 11.0
Load rating vs Kentucky average (39.2 t)
Top 20%
Higher load rating than 80% of Kentucky bridges
58
Bridges in Spencer · 5 in Poor condition
KY 55 50.2 t
Kentucky average 39.2 t

Live comparison across Kentucky.

Historical Sufficiency Rating

PlainBridge-computed
98.2 / 100 - historical 80–100 band
Structural adequacy /55
55.0
Serviceability /30
29.0
Essentiality /15
14.2
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
7/9
Good (7–9)
Superstructure
7/9
Good (7–9)
Substructure
7/9
Good (7–9)
Inventory Load Rating
50.2 t
NBI inventory level (metric tons)
Overall Condition
Good

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

Structural Details

Year Built
2016
Material
Prestressed Concrete Continuous
Number of Spans
3
Structure Length
101.5 m (333 ft)
Deck Width
11.8 m (39 ft)
Owner
State Highway Agency
Avg Daily Traffic
3,438 vehicles/day
Structure Number
108B00050N

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) rates good at 7/9, with no significant deterioration on file.

How to read this record

This page shows what the last federal inspection recorded, not whether KY 55 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 KY 55 against other structures in Spencer and across Kentucky. Kentucky 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 KY 55?

KY 55 in Spencer, Kentucky has a deck rating of 7/9, superstructure rating of 7/9, and substructure rating of 7/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.

How often is KY 55 inspected?

KY 55'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 3,438 vehicles per day.

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

FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. KY 55 is currently shown as Good condition from its component ratings; that category is not a live closure or safety decision.

What is the inventory load rating for KY 55?

KY 55 has an NBI inventory load rating of 50.2 metric tons.

Who is responsible for maintaining KY 55?

KY 55 is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.

How old is KY 55 and does age affect safety?

KY 55 was built in 2016, making it 10 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.