WATTS CREEK ROAD
Carrying WATTS CREEK ROAD over WATTS CREEK
.1 MI NW OF JCT US 25W, Whitley, Kentucky
Data updated May 2026
FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.
Bridge Snapshot: WATTS CREEK ROAD
The WATTS CREEK ROAD bridge in Whitley, Kentucky carries WATTS CREEK ROAD over WATTS CREEK. It was built in 1935, making it 91 years old today. The structure is built primarily of steel and spans 2 sections, stretching 37.8 meters (124 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 250 vehicles, placing it in the lower-traffic tier of Kentucky bridges. It is owned and maintained by County Highway Agency.
The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 1/9, superstructure at 1/9, substructure at 1/9. The weakest component sits in critical 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 0.1 metric tons.
Sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for refresh cadence and NBI release vintage.
How WATTS CREEK ROAD 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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
- 1935
- Material
- Steel
- Number of Spans
- 2
- Structure Length
- 37.8 m (124 ft)
- Deck Width
- 3.7 m (12 ft)
- Owner
- County Highway Agency
- Avg Daily Traffic
- 250 vehicles/day
- Structure Number
- 118C00001N
Location
Data Source
FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI).
FHWA NBI Program ↗Condition Analysis
- • At 1/9, the deck (driving surface) is in critical shape, with severe wear requiring urgent action.
- • At 1/9, the superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) is in critical shape, with severe wear requiring urgent action.
- • The substructure (piers and abutments) is in critical condition (1/9), with severe deterioration requiring urgent attention.
How to read this record
WATTS CREEK ROAD 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 WATTS CREEK ROAD 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 WATTS CREEK ROAD?
WATTS CREEK ROAD in Whitley, Kentucky has a deck rating of 1/9, superstructure rating of 1/9, and substructure rating of 1/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.
How often is WATTS CREEK ROAD inspected?
WATTS CREEK ROAD'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 250 vehicles per day.
What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?
FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. WATTS CREEK ROAD 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 WATTS CREEK ROAD?
WATTS CREEK ROAD has an NBI inventory load rating of 0.1 metric tons.
Who is responsible for maintaining WATTS CREEK ROAD?
WATTS CREEK ROAD is owned and maintained by County Highway Agency.
How old is WATTS CREEK ROAD and does age affect safety?
WATTS CREEK ROAD was built in 1935, making it 91 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.