FHWA NBI 2024 Inspection record Public-domain dataset

I40

Carrying I40 over HARPETH RIVER

.4 M E JCT SR249&I40, Cheatham, Tennessee

Data updated May 2026

FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.

Poor
31 t Inventory load rating

Bridge Snapshot: I40

The I40 bridge in Cheatham, Tennessee carries I40 over HARPETH RIVER. It was built in 1960, making it 66 years old today. It was last reconstructed in 1988, extending its service life. The structure is built primarily of prestressed concrete and spans 14 sections, stretching 182.6 meters (599 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 53,557 vehicles, placing it in the heavily-trafficked tier of Tennessee bridges. It is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.

The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 5/9, superstructure at 5/9, substructure at 4/9. The weakest component sits in poor 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 30.8 metric tons.

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

How I40 compares

▲ 1.3
Load rating vs Tennessee average (29.5 t)
Bottom 37%
Lower load rating than 63% of Tennessee bridges
128
Bridges in Cheatham · 7 in Poor condition
I40 30.8 t
Tennessee average 29.5 t

Live comparison across Tennessee.

Historical Sufficiency Rating

PlainBridge-computed
60.8 / 100 - historical 50–79.9 band
Structural adequacy /55
29.3
Serviceability /30
27.0
Essentiality /15
5.4
Special reductions
−1.0

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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
5/9
Fair (5–6)
Superstructure
5/9
Fair (5–6)
Substructure
4/9
Poor (1–4)
Inventory Load Rating
30.8 t
NBI inventory level (metric tons)
Overall Condition
Poor

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

Structural Details

Year Built
1960
Last Reconstructed
1988
Material
Prestressed Concrete
Number of Spans
14
Structure Length
182.6 m (599 ft)
Deck Width
13.4 m (44 ft)
Owner
State Highway Agency
Avg Daily Traffic
53,557 vehicles/day
Structure Number
11I00400008

Condition Analysis

  • The deck (driving surface) is in fair condition (5/9), with minor deterioration that may require routine maintenance.
  • The superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) is in fair condition (5/9), with minor deterioration that may require routine maintenance.
  • The substructure (piers and abutments) is in poor condition (4/9), showing advanced deterioration that may require priority repair.

How to read this record

I40 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 I40 against other structures in Cheatham and across Tennessee. Tennessee 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 I40?

I40 in Cheatham, Tennessee has a deck rating of 5/9, superstructure rating of 5/9, and substructure rating of 4/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.

How often is I40 inspected?

I40'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 53,557 vehicles per day.

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

FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. I40 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 I40?

I40 has an NBI inventory load rating of 30.8 metric tons.

Who is responsible for maintaining I40?

I40 is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.

How old is I40 and does age affect safety?

I40 was built in 1960, making it 66 years old and last reconstructed in 1988.

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.