KY-478
Carrying KY-478 over JELLICO CREEK
3.0 MI. W. JCT KY 204, Whitley, Kentucky
Data updated May 2026
FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.
Bridge Snapshot: KY-478
The KY-478 bridge in Whitley, Kentucky carries KY-478 over JELLICO CREEK. It was built in 1991, making it 35 years old today. The structure is built primarily of prestressed concrete continuous and spans 2 sections, stretching 61.9 meters (203 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 281 vehicles, placing it in the lower-traffic tier of Kentucky bridges. It is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.
The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 6/9, superstructure at 7/9, substructure at 7/9. The weakest component sits in fair condition. No reported major component scores in the Poor range under the current federal condition thresholds. Its NBI inventory load rating is 44.4 metric tons.
Sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for refresh cadence and NBI release vintage.
How KY-478 compares
Live comparison across Kentucky.
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
- 1991
- Material
- Prestressed Concrete Continuous
- Number of Spans
- 2
- Structure Length
- 61.9 m (203 ft)
- Deck Width
- 9.7 m (32 ft)
- Owner
- State Highway Agency
- Avg Daily Traffic
- 281 vehicles/day
- Structure Number
- 118B00107N
Location
Data Source
FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI).
FHWA NBI Program ↗Condition Analysis
- • The deck (driving surface) rates fair at 6/9, minor deterioration that routine maintenance should address.
- • The superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) rates good at 7/9, with no significant deterioration on file.
- • 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-478 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-478 against other structures in Whitley 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-478?
KY-478 in Whitley, Kentucky has a deck rating of 6/9, superstructure rating of 7/9, and substructure rating of 7/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.
How often is KY-478 inspected?
KY-478'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 281 vehicles per day.
What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?
FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. KY-478 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 KY-478?
KY-478 has an NBI inventory load rating of 44.4 metric tons.
Who is responsible for maintaining KY-478?
KY-478 is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.
How old is KY-478 and does age affect safety?
KY-478 was built in 1991, making it 35 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.
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.