FHWA NBI 2024 Inspection record Public-domain dataset

FM 1539

Carrying FM 1539 over DRAW

1.80 MI E OF SH 359, Jim Wells, Texas

Data updated May 2026

FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.

Fair
25 t Inventory load rating

Bridge Snapshot: FM 1539

The FM 1539 bridge in Jim Wells, Texas carries FM 1539 over DRAW. It was built in 1950, making it 76 years old today. The structure is built primarily of concrete and spans 4 sections, stretching 7.9 meters (26 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 100 vehicles, placing it in the lower-traffic tier of Texas bridges. It is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.

The latest FHWA inspection records show culvert at 6/9. The weakest component sits in fair condition. All reported major components score above the Poor range. 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 FM 1539 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
FM 1539 24.5 t
Texas average 28.3 t

Live comparison across Texas.

Historical Sufficiency Rating

PlainBridge-computed
89.7 / 100 - historical 80–100 band
Structural adequacy /55
47.8
Serviceability /30
30.0
Essentiality /15
15.0
Special reductions
−3.0

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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
6/9
Fair (5–6)
Inventory Load Rating
24.5 t
NBI inventory level (metric tons)
Overall Condition
Fair

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

Structural Details

Year Built
1950
Material
Concrete
Number of Spans
4
Structure Length
7.9 m (26 ft)
Deck Width
8.9 m (29 ft)
Owner
State Highway Agency
Avg Daily Traffic
100 vehicles/day
Structure Number
161260147201001

How to read this record

This page shows what the last federal inspection recorded, not whether FM 1539 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 FM 1539 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 FM 1539?

FM 1539 in Jim Wells, Texas on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.

How often is FM 1539 inspected?

FM 1539'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 100 vehicles per day.

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

FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. FM 1539 is currently shown as Fair condition from its component ratings; that category is not a live closure or safety decision.

What is the inventory load rating for FM 1539?

FM 1539 has an NBI inventory load rating of 24.5 metric tons.

Who is responsible for maintaining FM 1539?

FM 1539 is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.

How old is FM 1539 and does age affect safety?

FM 1539 was built in 1950, making it 76 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.