FHWA NBI 2024 Inspection record Public-domain dataset

BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY

Carrying BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY over U.S. ROUTE 19

12.7 MILES TO U.S. ROUTE, Haywood, North Carolina

Data updated May 2026

FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.

Poor
50 t Inventory load rating

Bridge Snapshot: BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY

The BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY bridge in Haywood, North Carolina carries BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY over U.S. ROUTE 19. It was built in 1961, making it 65 years old today. The structure is built primarily of prestressed concrete and spans 4 sections, stretching 77.1 meters (253 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 100 vehicles, placing it in the lower-traffic tier of North Carolina bridges. It is owned and maintained by National Park Service.

The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 5/9, superstructure at 4/9, 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 49.9 metric tons.

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

How BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY compares

▲ 5.7
Load rating vs North Carolina average (44.2 t)
Top 26%
Higher load rating than 74% of North Carolina bridges
286
Bridges in Haywood · 39 in Poor condition
BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY 49.9 t
North Carolina average 44.2 t

Live comparison across North Carolina.

Historical Sufficiency Rating

PlainBridge-computed
63.8 / 100 - historical 50–79.9 band
Structural adequacy /55
30.0
Serviceability /30
19.3
Essentiality /15
14.6
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
5/9
Fair (5–6)
Superstructure
4/9
Poor (1–4)
Substructure
7/9
Good (7–9)
Inventory Load Rating
49.9 t
NBI inventory level (metric tons)
Overall Condition
Poor

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

Structural Details

Year Built
1961
Material
Prestressed Concrete
Number of Spans
4
Structure Length
77.1 m (253 ft)
Deck Width
10.1 m (33 ft)
Owner
National Park Service
Avg Daily Traffic
100 vehicles/day
Structure Number
5140129P0000000

Condition Analysis

  • At 5/9, 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.
  • At 7/9, the substructure (piers and abutments) is in good shape and shows no significant wear.

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 Haywood 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 Haywood, North Carolina has a deck rating of 5/9, superstructure rating of 4/9, and substructure rating of 7/9 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 100 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 49.9 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 1961, making it 65 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.