FHWA NBI 2024 Inspection record Public-domain dataset

US HIGHWAY 101 NB

Carrying US HIGHWAY 101 NB over ATASCADERO CREEK

05-SLO-101-45.72-ATAS, San Luis Obispo, California

Data updated May 2026

FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.

Poor
22 t Inventory load rating

Bridge Snapshot: US HIGHWAY 101 NB

The US HIGHWAY 101 NB bridge in San Luis Obispo, California carries US HIGHWAY 101 NB over ATASCADERO CREEK. It was built in 1956, making it 70 years old today. The structure is built primarily of concrete and spans 1 section, stretching 14.0 meters (46 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 30,000 vehicles, placing it in the heavily-trafficked tier of California bridges. It is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.

The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 4/9, superstructure at 7/9, substructure at 7/9. 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 22.0 metric tons.

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

How US HIGHWAY 101 NB compares

▼ 9.3
Load rating vs California average (31.3 t)
Bottom 16%
Lower load rating than 84% of California bridges
408
Bridges in San Luis Obispo · 19 in Poor condition
US HIGHWAY 101 NB 22.0 t
California average 31.3 t

Live comparison across California.

Historical Sufficiency Rating

PlainBridge-computed
78.6 / 100 - historical 50–79.9 band
Structural adequacy /55
44.1
Serviceability /30
25.0
Essentiality /15
9.5
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
7/9
Good (7–9)
Substructure
7/9
Good (7–9)
Inventory Load Rating
22.0 t
NBI inventory level (metric tons)
Overall Condition
Poor

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

Structural Details

Year Built
1956
Material
Concrete
Number of Spans
1
Structure Length
14.0 m (46 ft)
Deck Width
16.5 m (54 ft)
Owner
State Highway Agency
Avg Daily Traffic
30,000 vehicles/day
Structure Number
49 0151R

Condition Analysis

  • The deck (driving surface) rates poor at 4/9, advanced deterioration that should be prioritized for repair.
  • 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 good condition (7/9), showing no significant deterioration.

How to read this record

US HIGHWAY 101 NB 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 US HIGHWAY 101 NB against other structures in San Luis Obispo 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 US HIGHWAY 101 NB?

US HIGHWAY 101 NB in San Luis Obispo, California has a deck rating of 4/9, superstructure rating of 7/9, and substructure rating of 7/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.

How often is US HIGHWAY 101 NB inspected?

US HIGHWAY 101 NB'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 30,000 vehicles per day.

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

FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. US HIGHWAY 101 NB 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 US HIGHWAY 101 NB?

US HIGHWAY 101 NB has an NBI inventory load rating of 22.0 metric tons.

Who is responsible for maintaining US HIGHWAY 101 NB?

US HIGHWAY 101 NB is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.

How old is US HIGHWAY 101 NB and does age affect safety?

US HIGHWAY 101 NB was built in 1956, making it 70 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.