ACCESS RAMP TO U.S
Carrying ACCESS RAMP TO U.S over MIDDLE FORK NEW RIVER
ACCESS RAMP TO U.S. ROUTE, Watauga, North Carolina
Data updated May 2026
FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.
Bridge Snapshot: ACCESS RAMP TO U.S
The ACCESS RAMP TO U.S bridge in Watauga, North Carolina carries ACCESS RAMP TO U.S over MIDDLE FORK NEW RIVER. It was built in 1957, making it 69 years old today. It was last reconstructed in 1984, extending its service life. The structure is built primarily of concrete and spans 1 section, stretching 6.1 meters (20 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 2,300 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 superstructure at 6/9, 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 24.5 metric tons.
Sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for refresh cadence and NBI release vintage.
How ACCESS RAMP TO U.S 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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
- 1957
- Last Reconstructed
- 1984
- Material
- Concrete
- Number of Spans
- 1
- Structure Length
- 6.1 m (20 ft)
- Deck Width
- 10.5 m (34 ft)
- Owner
- National Park Service
- Avg Daily Traffic
- 2,300 vehicles/day
- Structure Number
- 5140172P0000000
Location
Data Source
FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI).
FHWA NBI Program ↗Condition Analysis
- • The superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) rates fair at 6/9, minor deterioration that routine maintenance should address.
- • 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 ACCESS RAMP TO U.S 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 ACCESS RAMP TO U.S against other structures in Watauga 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 ACCESS RAMP TO U.S?
ACCESS RAMP TO U.S in Watauga, North Carolina, superstructure rating of 6/9, and substructure rating of 6/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.
How often is ACCESS RAMP TO U.S inspected?
ACCESS RAMP TO U.S'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 2,300 vehicles per day.
What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?
FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. ACCESS RAMP TO U.S 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 ACCESS RAMP TO U.S?
ACCESS RAMP TO U.S has an NBI inventory load rating of 24.5 metric tons.
Who is responsible for maintaining ACCESS RAMP TO U.S?
ACCESS RAMP TO U.S is owned and maintained by National Park Service.
How old is ACCESS RAMP TO U.S and does age affect safety?
ACCESS RAMP TO U.S was built in 1957, making it 69 years old and last reconstructed in 1984.
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.