BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY
Carrying BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY over RAVINE
3.1 MILES TO NC ROUTE 80, McDowell, North Carolina
Data updated May 2026
FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.
Bridge Snapshot: BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY
The BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY bridge in McDowell, North Carolina carries BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY over RAVINE. It was built in 1938, making it 88 years old today. It was last reconstructed in 1986, extending its service life. The structure is built primarily of steel and spans 2 sections, stretching 34.1 meters (112 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 5,007 vehicles, placing it in the moderately-trafficked tier of North Carolina bridges. It is owned and maintained by National Park Service.
The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 6/9, superstructure at 4/9, substructure at 6/9. The weakest component sits in poor condition. A component scored 4 or below, placing this bridge in the federal Poor condition category rather than declaring it unsafe or closed. Its NBI inventory load rating is 25.4 metric tons.
Sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for refresh cadence and NBI release vintage.
How BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY compares
Live comparison across North Carolina.
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
- 1938
- Last Reconstructed
- 1986
- Material
- Steel
- Number of Spans
- 2
- Structure Length
- 34.1 m (112 ft)
- Deck Width
- 10.1 m (33 ft)
- Owner
- National Park Service
- Avg Daily Traffic
- 5,007 vehicles/day
- Structure Number
- 5140115P0000000
Location
Data Source
FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI).
FHWA NBI Program ↗Condition Analysis
- • At 6/9, the deck (driving surface) shows fair condition, with minor wear flagged for upkeep.
- • 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) rates fair at 6/9, minor deterioration that routine maintenance should address.
How to read this record
BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY 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 BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY against other structures in McDowell and across North Carolina. North Carolina 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 BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY?
BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY in McDowell, North Carolina has a deck rating of 6/9, superstructure rating of 4/9, and substructure rating of 6/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.
How often is BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY inspected?
BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY'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 5,007 vehicles per day.
What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?
FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY 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 BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY?
BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY has an NBI inventory load rating of 25.4 metric tons.
Who is responsible for maintaining BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY?
BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY is owned and maintained by National Park Service.
How old is BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY and does age affect safety?
BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY was built in 1938, making it 88 years old and last reconstructed in 1986.
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.