FHWA NBI 2024 Inspection record Public-domain dataset

BLACK ROAD

Carrying BLACK ROAD over UP RR & AMTRAK

2.0 MI N ASSOCIATED RD, Santa Barbara, California

Data updated May 2026

FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.

Fair
17 t Inventory load rating

Bridge Snapshot: BLACK ROAD

The BLACK ROAD bridge in Santa Barbara, California carries BLACK ROAD over UP RR & AMTRAK. It was built in 1943, making it 83 years old today. The structure is built primarily of steel and spans 1 section, stretching 69.7 meters (229 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 1,003 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 5/9, substructure at 7/9. The weakest component sits in fair condition. No reported major component scores in the Poor range under the current federal condition thresholds. Its NBI inventory load rating is 17.2 metric tons.

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

How BLACK ROAD compares

▼ 14.1
Load rating vs California average (31.3 t)
Bottom 9%
Lower load rating than 91% of California bridges
429
Bridges in Santa Barbara · 20 in Poor condition
BLACK ROAD 17.2 t
California average 31.3 t

Live comparison across California.

Historical Sufficiency Rating

PlainBridge-computed
49.7 / 100 - historical 20–49.9 band
Structural adequacy /55
25.7
Serviceability /30
13.1
Essentiality /15
10.9
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
7/9
Good (7–9)
Superstructure
5/9
Fair (5–6)
Substructure
7/9
Good (7–9)
Inventory Load Rating
17.2 t
NBI inventory level (metric tons)
Overall Condition
Fair

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

Structural Details

Year Built
1943
Material
Steel
Number of Spans
1
Structure Length
69.7 m (229 ft)
Deck Width
9.5 m (31 ft)
Owner
County Highway Agency
Avg Daily Traffic
1,003 vehicles/day
Structure Number
51C0035

Condition Analysis

  • At 7/9, the deck (driving surface) is in good shape and shows no significant wear.
  • The superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) rates fair at 5/9, minor deterioration that routine maintenance should address.
  • The substructure (piers and abutments) rates good at 7/9, with no significant deterioration on file.

How to read this record

This page shows what the last federal inspection recorded, not whether BLACK ROAD 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 BLACK ROAD against other structures in Santa Barbara 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 BLACK ROAD?

BLACK ROAD in Santa Barbara, California has a deck rating of 7/9, superstructure rating of 5/9, and substructure rating of 7/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.

How often is BLACK ROAD inspected?

BLACK ROAD'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 1,003 vehicles per day.

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

FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. BLACK ROAD 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 BLACK ROAD?

BLACK ROAD has an NBI inventory load rating of 17.2 metric tons.

Who is responsible for maintaining BLACK ROAD?

BLACK ROAD is owned and maintained by County Highway Agency.

How old is BLACK ROAD and does age affect safety?

BLACK ROAD was built in 1943, making it 83 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.