JAMES S MCDONNELL
Carrying JAMES S MCDONNELL over COLDWATER CR
S 5 T 46 N R 6 E, St. Louis, Missouri
Data updated May 2026
FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.
Bridge Snapshot: JAMES S MCDONNELL
The JAMES S MCDONNELL bridge in St. Louis, Missouri carries JAMES S MCDONNELL over COLDWATER CR. It was built in 1951, making it 75 years old today. It was last reconstructed in 1989, extending its service life. The structure is built primarily of steel and spans 3 sections, stretching 33.8 meters (111 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 10,699 vehicles, placing it in the heavily-trafficked tier of Missouri bridges. It is owned and maintained by County Highway Agency.
The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 6/9, superstructure at 6/9, substructure at 4/9. The weakest component sits in poor condition. At least one major component here scores 4 or below, which produces a Poor condition classification under FHWA's current reporting rules. Its NBI inventory load rating is 31.5 metric tons.
Sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for refresh cadence and NBI release vintage.
How JAMES S MCDONNELL compares
Live comparison across Missouri.
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
- 1951
- Last Reconstructed
- 1989
- Material
- Steel
- Number of Spans
- 3
- Structure Length
- 33.8 m (111 ft)
- Deck Width
- 16.4 m (54 ft)
- Owner
- County Highway Agency
- Avg Daily Traffic
- 10,699 vehicles/day
- Structure Number
- 15561
Location
Data Source
FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI).
FHWA NBI Program ↗Condition Analysis
- • At 6/9, the deck (driving surface) shows fair condition, with minor wear flagged for upkeep.
- • At 6/9, the superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) shows fair condition, with minor wear flagged for upkeep.
- • The substructure (piers and abutments) is in poor condition (4/9), showing advanced deterioration that may require priority repair.
How to read this record
JAMES S MCDONNELL 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 JAMES S MCDONNELL against other structures in St. Louis and across Missouri. Missouri 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 JAMES S MCDONNELL?
JAMES S MCDONNELL in St. Louis, Missouri has a deck rating of 6/9, superstructure rating of 6/9, and substructure rating of 4/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.
How often is JAMES S MCDONNELL inspected?
JAMES S MCDONNELL'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 10,699 vehicles per day.
What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?
FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. JAMES S MCDONNELL 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 JAMES S MCDONNELL?
JAMES S MCDONNELL has an NBI inventory load rating of 31.5 metric tons.
Who is responsible for maintaining JAMES S MCDONNELL?
JAMES S MCDONNELL is owned and maintained by County Highway Agency.
How old is JAMES S MCDONNELL and does age affect safety?
JAMES S MCDONNELL was built in 1951, making it 75 years old and last reconstructed in 1989.
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.