SH 121 BUS
Carrying SH 121 BUS over ELM FORK TRINITY RIVER
2.25 MI NE OF IH 35E, Denton, Texas
Data updated May 2026
FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.
Bridge Snapshot: SH 121 BUS
The SH 121 BUS bridge in Denton, Texas carries SH 121 BUS over ELM FORK TRINITY RIVER. It was built in 1949, making it 77 years old today. It was last reconstructed in 1988, extending its service life. The structure is built primarily of prestressed concrete and spans 3 sections, stretching 83.8 meters (275 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 38,650 vehicles, placing it in the heavily-trafficked tier of Texas bridges. It is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.
The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 6/9, 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 32.7 metric tons.
Sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for refresh cadence and NBI release vintage.
How SH 121 BUS 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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
- 1949
- Last Reconstructed
- 1988
- Material
- Prestressed Concrete
- Number of Spans
- 3
- Structure Length
- 83.8 m (275 ft)
- Deck Width
- 25.9 m (85 ft)
- Owner
- State Highway Agency
- Avg Daily Traffic
- 38,650 vehicles/day
- Structure Number
- 180610036403017
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 7/9, the superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) is in good shape and shows no significant wear.
- • At 6/9, the substructure (piers and abutments) shows fair condition, with minor wear flagged for upkeep.
How to read this record
This page shows what the last federal inspection recorded, not whether SH 121 BUS 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 SH 121 BUS against other structures in Denton 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 SH 121 BUS?
SH 121 BUS in Denton, Texas has a deck rating of 6/9, superstructure rating of 7/9, and substructure rating of 6/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.
How often is SH 121 BUS inspected?
SH 121 BUS'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 38,650 vehicles per day.
What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?
FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. SH 121 BUS 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 SH 121 BUS?
SH 121 BUS has an NBI inventory load rating of 32.7 metric tons.
Who is responsible for maintaining SH 121 BUS?
SH 121 BUS is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.
How old is SH 121 BUS and does age affect safety?
SH 121 BUS was built in 1949, making it 77 years old and last reconstructed in 1988.
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.