FHWA NBI 2024 Inspection record Public-domain dataset

Bluff Springs Road

Carrying Bluff Springs Road over Bear Creek

1.2 MI W OF FM 983, Ellis, Texas

Data updated May 2026

FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.

Fair
19 t Inventory load rating

Bridge Snapshot: Bluff Springs Road

The Bluff Springs Road bridge in Ellis, Texas carries Bluff Springs Road over Bear Creek. It was built in 1993, making it 33 years old today. The structure is built primarily of steel and spans 1 section, stretching 18.0 meters (59 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 112 vehicles, placing it in the lower-traffic tier of Texas bridges. It is owned and maintained by County Highway Agency.

The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 7/9, superstructure at 6/9, substructure 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 19.0 metric tons.

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

How Bluff Springs Road compares

▼ 9.3
Load rating vs Texas average (28.3 t)
Bottom 2%
Lower load rating than 98% of Texas bridges
691
Bridges in Ellis · 10 in Poor condition
Bluff Springs Road 19.0 t
Texas average 28.3 t

Live comparison across Texas.

Historical Sufficiency Rating

PlainBridge-computed
56.9 / 100 - historical 50–79.9 band
Structural adequacy /55
39.0
Serviceability /30
6.0
Essentiality /15
14.9
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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

Deck
7/9
Good (7–9)
Superstructure
6/9
Fair (5–6)
Substructure
6/9
Fair (5–6)
Inventory Load Rating
19.0 t
NBI inventory level (metric tons)
Overall Condition
Fair

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

Structural Details

Year Built
1993
Material
Steel
Number of Spans
1
Structure Length
18.0 m (59 ft)
Deck Width
3.5 m (11 ft)
Owner
County Highway Agency
Avg Daily Traffic
112 vehicles/day
Structure Number
180710AA0597001

Condition Analysis

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

How to read this record

This page shows what the last federal inspection recorded, not whether Bluff Springs Road 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 Bluff Springs Road against other structures in Ellis 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 Bluff Springs Road?

Bluff Springs Road in Ellis, Texas has a deck rating of 7/9, superstructure rating of 6/9, and substructure rating of 6/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.

How often is Bluff Springs Road inspected?

Bluff Springs Road'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 112 vehicles per day.

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

FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. Bluff Springs Road 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 Bluff Springs Road?

Bluff Springs Road has an NBI inventory load rating of 19.0 metric tons.

Who is responsible for maintaining Bluff Springs Road?

Bluff Springs Road is owned and maintained by County Highway Agency.

How old is Bluff Springs Road and does age affect safety?

Bluff Springs Road was built in 1993, making it 33 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.