FHWA NBI 2024 Inspection record Public-domain dataset

US 281 SB

Carrying US 281 SB over SLOUGH D

1.2 MI S OF SH 72, Live Oak, Texas

Data updated May 2026

FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.

Fair
41 t Inventory load rating

Bridge Snapshot: US 281 SB

The US 281 SB bridge in Live Oak, Texas carries US 281 SB over SLOUGH D. It was built in 1958, making it 68 years old today. The structure is built primarily of concrete and spans 3 sections, stretching 27.7 meters (91 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 5,067 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 7/9, superstructure at 7/9, substructure at 6/9. The weakest component sits in fair condition. No reported major component scores in the Poor range under the current federal condition thresholds. Its NBI inventory load rating is 40.8 metric tons.

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

How US 281 SB compares

▲ 12.5
Load rating vs Texas average (28.3 t)
Top 6%
Higher load rating than 94% of Texas bridges
217
Bridges in Live Oak · 4 in Poor condition
US 281 SB 40.8 t
Texas average 28.3 t

Live comparison across Texas.

Historical Sufficiency Rating

PlainBridge-computed
78.4 / 100 - historical 50–79.9 band
Structural adequacy /55
55.0
Serviceability /30
11.0
Essentiality /15
14.4
Special reductions
−2.0

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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
7/9
Good (7–9)
Superstructure
7/9
Good (7–9)
Substructure
6/9
Fair (5–6)
Inventory Load Rating
40.8 t
NBI inventory level (metric tons)
Overall Condition
Fair

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

Structural Details

Year Built
1958
Material
Concrete
Number of Spans
3
Structure Length
27.7 m (91 ft)
Deck Width
9.5 m (31 ft)
Owner
State Highway Agency
Avg Daily Traffic
5,067 vehicles/day
Structure Number
161490025401042

Condition Analysis

  • The deck (driving surface) is in good condition (7/9), showing no significant deterioration.
  • The superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) rates good at 7/9, with no significant deterioration on file.
  • The substructure (piers and abutments) is in fair condition (6/9), with minor deterioration that may require routine maintenance.

How to read this record

This page shows what the last federal inspection recorded, not whether US 281 SB 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 US 281 SB against other structures in Live Oak 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 281 SB?

US 281 SB in Live Oak, Texas has a deck rating of 7/9, superstructure rating of 7/9, and substructure rating of 6/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.

How often is US 281 SB inspected?

US 281 SB'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 5,067 vehicles per day.

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

FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. US 281 SB 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 US 281 SB?

US 281 SB has an NBI inventory load rating of 40.8 metric tons.

Who is responsible for maintaining US 281 SB?

US 281 SB is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.

How old is US 281 SB and does age affect safety?

US 281 SB was built in 1958, making it 68 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.