BEAR CRK RD
Carrying BEAR CRK RD over SAN LORENZO RIVER
AT STATE ROUTE 9, Santa Cruz, California
Data updated May 2026
FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.
Bridge Snapshot: BEAR CRK RD
The BEAR CRK RD bridge in Santa Cruz, California carries BEAR CRK RD over SAN LORENZO RIVER. It was built in 1954, making it 72 years old today. The structure is built primarily of steel continuous and spans 3 sections, stretching 51.8 meters (170 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 5,000 vehicles, placing it in the moderately-trafficked tier of California bridges. It is owned and maintained by County Highway Agency.
The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 5/9, superstructure at 5/9, substructure at 7/9. The weakest component sits in fair condition. All reported major components score above the Poor range. Its NBI inventory load rating is 31.1 metric tons.
Sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for refresh cadence and NBI release vintage.
How BEAR CRK RD compares
Live comparison across California.
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
- 1954
- Material
- Steel Continuous
- Number of Spans
- 3
- Structure Length
- 51.8 m (170 ft)
- Deck Width
- 9.0 m (30 ft)
- Owner
- County Highway Agency
- Avg Daily Traffic
- 5,000 vehicles/day
- Structure Number
- 36C0084
Location
Data Source
FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI).
FHWA NBI Program ↗Condition Analysis
- • At 5/9, the deck (driving surface) shows fair condition, with minor wear flagged for upkeep.
- • At 5/9, the superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) shows fair condition, with minor wear flagged for upkeep.
- • The substructure (piers and abutments) is in good condition (7/9), showing no significant deterioration.
How to read this record
This page shows what the last federal inspection recorded, not whether BEAR CRK RD 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 BEAR CRK RD against other structures in Santa Cruz and across California. California 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 BEAR CRK RD?
BEAR CRK RD in Santa Cruz, California has a deck rating of 5/9, superstructure rating of 5/9, and substructure rating of 7/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.
How often is BEAR CRK RD inspected?
BEAR CRK RD'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 5,000 vehicles per day.
What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?
FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. BEAR CRK RD 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 BEAR CRK RD?
BEAR CRK RD has an NBI inventory load rating of 31.1 metric tons.
Who is responsible for maintaining BEAR CRK RD?
BEAR CRK RD is owned and maintained by County Highway Agency.
How old is BEAR CRK RD and does age affect safety?
BEAR CRK RD was built in 1954, making it 72 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.
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.