US 281A
Carrying US 281A over ATASCOSA RIVER
1.15 MI NW OF FM 1099, Atascosa, Texas
Data updated May 2026
FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.
Bridge Snapshot: US 281A
The US 281A bridge in Atascosa, Texas carries US 281A over ATASCOSA RIVER. It was built in 1925, making it 101 years old today. It was last reconstructed in 1953, extending its service life. The structure is built primarily of steel and spans 1 section, stretching 154.2 meters (506 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 3,840 vehicles, placing it in the moderately-trafficked tier of Texas bridges. It is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.
The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 5/9, superstructure at 3/9, substructure at 6/9. The weakest component sits in poor condition. A component scored 4 or below, placing this bridge in the federal Poor condition category rather than declaring it unsafe or closed. Its NBI inventory load rating is 14.5 metric tons.
Sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for refresh cadence and NBI release vintage.
How US 281A compares
Live comparison across Texas.
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
- 1925
- Last Reconstructed
- 1953
- Material
- Steel
- Number of Spans
- 1
- Structure Length
- 154.2 m (506 ft)
- Deck Width
- 9.2 m (30 ft)
- Owner
- State Highway Agency
- Avg Daily Traffic
- 3,840 vehicles/day
- Structure Number
- 150070007313014
Location
Data Source
FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI).
FHWA NBI Program ↗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 poor condition (3/9), showing advanced deterioration that may require priority repair.
- • The substructure (piers and abutments) is in fair condition (6/9), with minor deterioration that may require routine maintenance.
How to read this record
US 281A 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 US 281A against other structures in Atascosa and across Texas. Texas 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 US 281A?
US 281A in Atascosa, Texas has a deck rating of 5/9, superstructure rating of 3/9, and substructure rating of 6/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.
How often is US 281A inspected?
US 281A'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 3,840 vehicles per day.
What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?
FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. US 281A 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 US 281A?
US 281A has an NBI inventory load rating of 14.5 metric tons.
Who is responsible for maintaining US 281A?
US 281A is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.
How old is US 281A and does age affect safety?
US 281A was built in 1925, making it 101 years old and last reconstructed in 1953.
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.