FHWA NBI 2024 Inspection record Public-domain dataset

WALNUT AVENUE

Carrying WALNUT AVENUE over LIVINGSTON CANAL

0.57 MI E CENTRAL AVE, Merced, California

Data updated May 2026

FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.

Fair
53 t Inventory load rating

Bridge Snapshot: WALNUT AVENUE

The WALNUT AVENUE bridge in Merced, California carries WALNUT AVENUE over LIVINGSTON CANAL. It was built in 1978, making it 48 years old today. The structure is built primarily of concrete continuous and spans 2 sections, stretching 20.4 meters (67 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 3,931 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 7/9, 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 52.5 metric tons.

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

How WALNUT AVENUE compares

▲ 21.2
Load rating vs California average (31.3 t)
Top 4%
Higher load rating than 96% of California bridges
532
Bridges in Merced · 33 in Poor condition
WALNUT AVENUE 52.5 t
California average 31.3 t

Live comparison across California.

Historical Sufficiency Rating

PlainBridge-computed
82.9 / 100 - historical 80–100 band
Structural adequacy /55
45.0
Serviceability /30
27.0
Essentiality /15
13.9
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
7/9
Good (7–9)
Superstructure
7/9
Good (7–9)
Substructure
5/9
Fair (5–6)
Inventory Load Rating
52.5 t
NBI inventory level (metric tons)
Overall Condition
Fair

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

Structural Details

Year Built
1978
Material
Concrete Continuous
Number of Spans
2
Structure Length
20.4 m (67 ft)
Deck Width
9.9 m (32 ft)
Owner
County Highway Agency
Avg Daily Traffic
3,931 vehicles/day
Structure Number
39C0078

Condition Analysis

  • The deck (driving surface) rates good at 7/9, with no significant deterioration on file.
  • The superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) rates good at 7/9, with no significant deterioration on file.
  • 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 WALNUT AVENUE 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 WALNUT AVENUE against other structures in Merced 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 WALNUT AVENUE?

WALNUT AVENUE in Merced, California has a deck rating of 7/9, superstructure rating of 7/9, and substructure rating of 5/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.

How often is WALNUT AVENUE inspected?

WALNUT AVENUE'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 3,931 vehicles per day.

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

FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. WALNUT AVENUE 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 WALNUT AVENUE?

WALNUT AVENUE has an NBI inventory load rating of 52.5 metric tons.

Who is responsible for maintaining WALNUT AVENUE?

WALNUT AVENUE is owned and maintained by County Highway Agency.

How old is WALNUT AVENUE and does age affect safety?

WALNUT AVENUE was built in 1978, making it 48 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.