FHWA NBI 2024 Inspection record Public-domain dataset

BUS 281 NB

Carrying BUS 281 NB over DRAW

1.4 MI N OF FM 3376, Jim Wells, Texas

Data updated May 2026

FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.

Good
25 t Inventory load rating

Bridge Snapshot: BUS 281 NB

The BUS 281 NB bridge in Jim Wells, Texas carries BUS 281 NB over DRAW. It was built in 1999, making it 27 years old today. The structure is built primarily of concrete and spans 5 sections, stretching 16.5 meters (54 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 2,380 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 culvert at 7/9. The weakest component sits in good condition. No reported major component scores in the Poor range under the current federal condition thresholds. Its NBI inventory load rating is 24.5 metric tons.

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

How BUS 281 NB compares

▼ 3.8
Load rating vs Texas average (28.3 t)
Bottom 29%
Lower load rating than 71% of Texas bridges
187
Bridges in Jim Wells · 3 in Poor condition
BUS 281 NB 24.5 t
Texas average 28.3 t

Live comparison across Texas.

Historical Sufficiency Rating

PlainBridge-computed
90.5 / 100 - historical 80–100 band
Structural adequacy /55
47.8
Serviceability /30
28.0
Essentiality /15
14.7
Special reductions
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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

Culvert
7/9
Good (7–9)
Inventory Load Rating
24.5 t
NBI inventory level (metric tons)
Overall Condition
Good

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

Structural Details

Year Built
1999
Material
Concrete
Number of Spans
5
Structure Length
16.5 m (54 ft)
Deck Width
9.9 m (32 ft)
Owner
State Highway Agency
Avg Daily Traffic
2,380 vehicles/day
Structure Number
161260025403080

How to read this record

This page shows what the last federal inspection recorded, not whether BUS 281 NB 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 BUS 281 NB against other structures in Jim Wells 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 BUS 281 NB?

BUS 281 NB in Jim Wells, Texas on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.

How often is BUS 281 NB inspected?

BUS 281 NB'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 2,380 vehicles per day.

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

FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. BUS 281 NB is currently shown as Good condition from its component ratings; that category is not a live closure or safety decision.

What is the inventory load rating for BUS 281 NB?

BUS 281 NB has an NBI inventory load rating of 24.5 metric tons.

Who is responsible for maintaining BUS 281 NB?

BUS 281 NB is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.

How old is BUS 281 NB and does age affect safety?

BUS 281 NB was built in 1999, making it 27 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.

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.