FHWA NBI 2024 Inspection record Public-domain dataset

VIA REAL DRIVE

Carrying VIA REAL DRIVE over SARATOGA CREEK

NEAR VIA MADRONAS DR, Santa Clara, California

Data updated May 2026

FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.

Fair
16 t Inventory load rating

Bridge Snapshot: VIA REAL DRIVE

The VIA REAL DRIVE bridge in Santa Clara, California carries VIA REAL DRIVE over SARATOGA CREEK. It was built in 1968, making it 58 years old today. The structure is built primarily of concrete and spans 1 section, stretching 15.5 meters (51 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 230 vehicles, placing it in the lower-traffic tier of California bridges. It is owned and maintained by City/Municipal Highway Agency.

The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 5/9, superstructure at 7/9, 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 15.9 metric tons.

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

How VIA REAL DRIVE compares

▼ 15.4
Load rating vs California average (31.3 t)
Bottom 4%
Lower load rating than 96% of California bridges
1,041
Bridges in Santa Clara · 38 in Poor condition
VIA REAL DRIVE 15.9 t
California average 31.3 t

Live comparison across California.

Historical Sufficiency Rating

PlainBridge-computed
55.4 / 100 - historical 50–79.9 band
Structural adequacy /55
23.2
Serviceability /30
20.3
Essentiality /15
15.0
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
5/9
Fair (5–6)
Superstructure
7/9
Good (7–9)
Substructure
5/9
Fair (5–6)
Inventory Load Rating
15.9 t
NBI inventory level (metric tons)
Overall Condition
Fair

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

Structural Details

Year Built
1968
Material
Concrete
Number of Spans
1
Structure Length
15.5 m (51 ft)
Deck Width
9.8 m (32 ft)
Owner
City/Municipal Highway Agency
Avg Daily Traffic
230 vehicles/day
Structure Number
37C0775

Condition Analysis

  • The deck (driving surface) is in fair condition (5/9), with minor deterioration that may require routine maintenance.
  • At 7/9, the superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) is in good shape and shows no significant wear.
  • The substructure (piers and abutments) is in fair condition (5/9), with minor deterioration that may require routine maintenance.

How to read this record

This page shows what the last federal inspection recorded, not whether VIA REAL DRIVE 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 VIA REAL DRIVE 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 VIA REAL DRIVE?

VIA REAL DRIVE in Santa Clara, California has a deck rating of 5/9, superstructure rating of 7/9, and substructure rating of 5/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.

How often is VIA REAL DRIVE inspected?

VIA REAL DRIVE'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 230 vehicles per day.

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

FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. VIA REAL DRIVE 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 VIA REAL DRIVE?

VIA REAL DRIVE has an NBI inventory load rating of 15.9 metric tons.

Who is responsible for maintaining VIA REAL DRIVE?

VIA REAL DRIVE is owned and maintained by City/Municipal Highway Agency.

How old is VIA REAL DRIVE and does age affect safety?

VIA REAL DRIVE was built in 1968, making it 58 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.