SH 73/SH 87 NB
Carrying SH 73/SH 87 NB over COW BAYOU
0.40 MI S OF SH 62, Orange, Texas
Data updated May 2026
FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.
Bridge Snapshot: SH 73/SH 87 NB
The SH 73/SH 87 NB bridge in Orange, Texas carries SH 73/SH 87 NB over COW BAYOU. It was built in 1941, making it 85 years old today. It was last reconstructed in 2015, extending its service life. The structure is built primarily of steel and spans 2 sections, stretching 245.1 meters (804 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 13,049 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 7/9, superstructure at 6/9, substructure at 4/9. The weakest component sits in poor condition. Because at least one major component scores 4 or lower, this bridge falls in FHWA's Poor condition category. That category is not a closure order. 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 73/SH 87 NB 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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
- 1941
- Last Reconstructed
- 2015
- Material
- Steel
- Number of Spans
- 2
- Structure Length
- 245.1 m (804 ft)
- Deck Width
- 9.7 m (32 ft)
- Owner
- State Highway Agency
- Avg Daily Traffic
- 13,049 vehicles/day
- Structure Number
- 201810030601017
Location
Data Source
FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI).
FHWA NBI Program ↗Condition Analysis
- • The deck (driving surface) is in good condition (7/9), showing no significant deterioration.
- • At 6/9, the superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) shows fair condition, with minor wear flagged for upkeep.
- • The substructure (piers and abutments) rates poor at 4/9, advanced deterioration that should be prioritized for repair.
How to read this record
SH 73/SH 87 NB is in the federal Poor condition category. That is a component-based result, not a closure order.
- NBI condition ratings reflect the latest record in this annual dataset, not a live status. Current routine inspection intervals are risk-based.
- Understand what Poor condition does and does not mean before drawing conclusions. Poor condition explained
- Compare SH 73/SH 87 NB against other structures in Orange 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 73/SH 87 NB?
SH 73/SH 87 NB in Orange, Texas has a deck rating of 7/9, superstructure rating of 6/9, and substructure rating of 4/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.
How often is SH 73/SH 87 NB inspected?
SH 73/SH 87 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 13,049 vehicles per day.
What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?
FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. SH 73/SH 87 NB is currently shown as Poor condition from its component ratings; that category is not a live closure or safety decision.
What is the inventory load rating for SH 73/SH 87 NB?
SH 73/SH 87 NB has an NBI inventory load rating of 32.7 metric tons.
Who is responsible for maintaining SH 73/SH 87 NB?
SH 73/SH 87 NB is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.
How old is SH 73/SH 87 NB and does age affect safety?
SH 73/SH 87 NB was built in 1941, making it 85 years old and last reconstructed in 2015.
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.