FHWA NBI 2024 Inspection record Public-domain dataset

COWPER ST

Carrying COWPER ST over MATADERO CREEK

COLO AVE & LOMA VERDE AV, Santa Clara, California

Data updated May 2026

FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.

Poor
32 t Inventory load rating

Bridge Snapshot: COWPER ST

The COWPER ST bridge in Santa Clara, California carries COWPER ST over MATADERO CREEK. It was built in 1989, making it 37 years old today. The structure is built primarily of prestressed concrete and spans 1 section, stretching 11.6 meters (38 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 City/Municipal Highway Agency.

The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 4/9, superstructure at 4/9, substructure at 7/9. The weakest component sits in poor condition. At least one major component here scores 4 or below, which produces a Poor condition classification under FHWA's current reporting rules. Its NBI inventory load rating is 32.4 metric tons.

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

How COWPER ST compares

▲ 1.1
Load rating vs California average (31.3 t)
Bottom 41%
Lower load rating than 59% of California bridges
1,041
Bridges in Santa Clara · 38 in Poor condition
COWPER ST 32.4 t
California average 31.3 t

Live comparison across California.

Historical Sufficiency Rating

PlainBridge-computed
66.3 / 100 - historical 50–79.9 band
Structural adequacy /55
30.0
Serviceability /30
24.0
Essentiality /15
14.3
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
4/9
Poor (1–4)
Superstructure
4/9
Poor (1–4)
Substructure
7/9
Good (7–9)
Inventory Load Rating
32.4 t
NBI inventory level (metric tons)
Overall Condition
Poor

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

Structural Details

Year Built
1989
Material
Prestressed Concrete
Number of Spans
1
Structure Length
11.6 m (38 ft)
Deck Width
14.6 m (48 ft)
Owner
City/Municipal Highway Agency
Avg Daily Traffic
5,000 vehicles/day
Structure Number
37C0769

Condition Analysis

  • The deck (driving surface) is in poor condition (4/9), showing advanced deterioration that may require priority repair.
  • At 4/9, the superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) is in poor shape, with advanced wear flagged for priority repair.
  • The substructure (piers and abutments) is in good condition (7/9), showing no significant deterioration.

How to read this record

COWPER ST 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 COWPER ST against other structures in Santa Clara 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 COWPER ST?

COWPER ST in Santa Clara, California has a deck rating of 4/9, superstructure rating of 4/9, and substructure rating of 7/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.

How often is COWPER ST inspected?

COWPER ST'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. COWPER ST 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 COWPER ST?

COWPER ST has an NBI inventory load rating of 32.4 metric tons.

Who is responsible for maintaining COWPER ST?

COWPER ST is owned and maintained by City/Municipal Highway Agency.

How old is COWPER ST and does age affect safety?

COWPER ST was built in 1989, making it 37 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.