FHWA NBI 2024 Inspection record Public-domain dataset

SANTA FE GRADE

Carrying SANTA FE GRADE over SPILLWAY DITCH

3.4 MI N/W OF SR 165, Merced, California

Data updated May 2026

FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.

Poor
58 t Inventory load rating

Bridge Snapshot: SANTA FE GRADE

The SANTA FE GRADE bridge in Merced, California carries SANTA FE GRADE over SPILLWAY DITCH. It was built in 1977, making it 49 years old today. The structure is built primarily of concrete continuous and spans 2 sections, stretching 16.8 meters (55 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 200 vehicles, placing it in the lower-traffic tier of California bridges. It is owned and maintained by County Highway Agency.

The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 4/9, superstructure at 4/9, substructure at 5/9. The weakest component sits in poor condition. Because at least one major component scores 4 or lower, this bridge falls in FHWA's Poor condition category. That category is not a closure order. Its NBI inventory load rating is 58.3 metric tons.

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

How SANTA FE GRADE compares

▲ 27.0
Load rating vs California average (31.3 t)
Top 3%
Higher load rating than 97% of California bridges
532
Bridges in Merced · 33 in Poor condition
SANTA FE GRADE 58.3 t
California average 31.3 t

Live comparison across California.

Historical Sufficiency Rating

PlainBridge-computed
69.2 / 100 - historical 50–79.9 band
Structural adequacy /55
30.0
Serviceability /30
25.0
Essentiality /15
14.3
Special reductions
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
5/9
Fair (5–6)
Inventory Load Rating
58.3 t
NBI inventory level (metric tons)
Overall Condition
Poor

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

Structural Details

Year Built
1977
Material
Concrete Continuous
Number of Spans
2
Structure Length
16.8 m (55 ft)
Deck Width
8.7 m (29 ft)
Owner
County Highway Agency
Avg Daily Traffic
200 vehicles/day
Structure Number
39C0343

Condition Analysis

  • The deck (driving surface) rates poor at 4/9, advanced deterioration that should be prioritized for repair.
  • The superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) is in poor condition (4/9), showing advanced deterioration that may require priority repair.
  • The substructure (piers and abutments) is in fair condition (5/9), with minor deterioration that may require routine maintenance.

How to read this record

SANTA FE GRADE 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 SANTA FE GRADE 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 SANTA FE GRADE?

SANTA FE GRADE in Merced, California has a deck rating of 4/9, superstructure rating of 4/9, and substructure rating of 5/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.

How often is SANTA FE GRADE inspected?

SANTA FE GRADE'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 200 vehicles per day.

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

FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. SANTA FE GRADE 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 SANTA FE GRADE?

SANTA FE GRADE has an NBI inventory load rating of 58.3 metric tons.

Who is responsible for maintaining SANTA FE GRADE?

SANTA FE GRADE is owned and maintained by County Highway Agency.

How old is SANTA FE GRADE and does age affect safety?

SANTA FE GRADE was built in 1977, making it 49 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.