AVENUE 256
Carrying AVENUE 256 over FRIANT-KERN CANAL
0.6 MI EAST OF ROAD 216, Tulare, California
Data updated May 2026
FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.
Bridge Snapshot: AVENUE 256
The AVENUE 256 bridge in Tulare, California carries AVENUE 256 over FRIANT-KERN CANAL. It was built in 1949, making it 77 years old today. The structure is built primarily of concrete and spans 2 sections, stretching 31.1 meters (102 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 1,300 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 6/9. 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 16.2 metric tons.
Sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for refresh cadence and NBI release vintage.
How AVENUE 256 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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
- 1949
- Material
- Concrete
- Number of Spans
- 2
- Structure Length
- 31.1 m (102 ft)
- Deck Width
- 6.8 m (22 ft)
- Owner
- County Highway Agency
- Avg Daily Traffic
- 1,300 vehicles/day
- Structure Number
- 46C0243
Location
Data Source
FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI).
FHWA NBI Program ↗Condition Analysis
- • At 7/9, the deck (driving surface) is in good shape and shows no significant wear.
- • At 7/9, the superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) is in good shape and shows no significant wear.
- • At 6/9, the substructure (piers and abutments) shows fair condition, with minor wear flagged for upkeep.
How to read this record
This page shows what the last federal inspection recorded, not whether AVENUE 256 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 AVENUE 256 against other structures in Tulare 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 AVENUE 256?
AVENUE 256 in Tulare, California has a deck rating of 7/9, superstructure rating of 7/9, and substructure rating of 6/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.
How often is AVENUE 256 inspected?
AVENUE 256'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 1,300 vehicles per day.
What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?
FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. AVENUE 256 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 AVENUE 256?
AVENUE 256 has an NBI inventory load rating of 16.2 metric tons.
Who is responsible for maintaining AVENUE 256?
AVENUE 256 is owned and maintained by County Highway Agency.
How old is AVENUE 256 and does age affect safety?
AVENUE 256 was built in 1949, making it 77 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.