FHWA NBI 2024 Inspection record Public-domain dataset

FM 490

Carrying FM 490 over DELTA LAKE DRAIN

0.7 MI E OF FM 1015, Willacy, Texas

Data updated May 2026

FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.

Fair
40 t Inventory load rating

Bridge Snapshot: FM 490

The FM 490 bridge in Willacy, Texas carries FM 490 over DELTA LAKE DRAIN. It was built in 1958, making it 68 years old today. The structure is built primarily of concrete and spans 4 sections, stretching 30.5 meters (100 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 2,702 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 6/9, superstructure at 6/9, substructure at 5/9. The weakest component sits in fair condition. None of this bridge's reported major components fall into the Poor condition range. Its NBI inventory load rating is 39.9 metric tons.

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

How FM 490 compares

▲ 11.6
Load rating vs Texas average (28.3 t)
Top 6%
Higher load rating than 94% of Texas bridges
124
Bridges in Willacy
FM 490 39.9 t
Texas average 28.3 t

Live comparison across Texas.

Historical Sufficiency Rating

PlainBridge-computed
66.8 / 100 - historical 50–79.9 band
Structural adequacy /55
45.0
Serviceability /30
10.0
Essentiality /15
13.8
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
6/9
Fair (5–6)
Superstructure
6/9
Fair (5–6)
Substructure
5/9
Fair (5–6)
Inventory Load Rating
39.9 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
4
Structure Length
30.5 m (100 ft)
Deck Width
7.7 m (25 ft)
Owner
State Highway Agency
Avg Daily Traffic
2,702 vehicles/day
Structure Number
212450143001002

Condition Analysis

  • The deck (driving surface) is in fair condition (6/9), with minor deterioration that may require routine maintenance.
  • At 6/9, the superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) shows fair condition, with minor wear flagged for upkeep.
  • At 5/9, 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 FM 490 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 490 against other structures in Willacy 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 490?

FM 490 in Willacy, Texas has a deck rating of 6/9, superstructure rating of 6/9, and substructure rating of 5/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.

How often is FM 490 inspected?

FM 490'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 2,702 vehicles per day.

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

FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. FM 490 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 490?

FM 490 has an NBI inventory load rating of 39.9 metric tons.

Who is responsible for maintaining FM 490?

FM 490 is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.

How old is FM 490 and does age affect safety?

FM 490 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.