FHWA NBI 2024 Inspection record Public-domain dataset

Sawmill Rd

Carrying Sawmill Rd over CREEK

0.4MI.S.OF LA.16, St. Helena, Louisiana

Data updated May 2026

FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.

Poor
18 t Inventory load rating

Bridge Snapshot: Sawmill Rd

The Sawmill Rd bridge in St. Helena, Louisiana carries Sawmill Rd over CREEK. It was built in 1964, making it 62 years old today. The structure is built primarily of wood or timber and spans 2 sections, stretching 12.2 meters (40 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 700 vehicles, placing it in the lower-traffic tier of Louisiana bridges. It is owned and maintained by County Highway Agency.

The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 5/9, superstructure at 5/9, substructure at 4/9. 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 18.1 metric tons.

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

How Sawmill Rd compares

▼ 14.2
Load rating vs Louisiana average (32.3 t)
Bottom 12%
Lower load rating than 88% of Louisiana bridges
139
Bridges in St. Helena · 12 in Poor condition
Sawmill Rd 18.1 t
Louisiana average 32.3 t

Live comparison across Louisiana.

Historical Sufficiency Rating

PlainBridge-computed
40.9 / 100 - historical 20–49.9 band
Structural adequacy /55
12.4
Serviceability /30
14.2
Essentiality /15
14.4
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
5/9
Fair (5–6)
Substructure
4/9
Poor (1–4)
Inventory Load Rating
18.1 t
NBI inventory level (metric tons)
Overall Condition
Poor

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

Structural Details

Year Built
1964
Material
Wood or Timber
Number of Spans
2
Structure Length
12.2 m (40 ft)
Deck Width
8.1 m (27 ft)
Owner
County Highway Agency
Avg Daily Traffic
700 vehicles/day
Structure Number
624630421903551

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) rates fair at 5/9, minor deterioration that routine maintenance should address.
  • The substructure (piers and abutments) rates poor at 4/9, advanced deterioration that should be prioritized for repair.

How to read this record

Sawmill Rd 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 Sawmill Rd against other structures in St. Helena and across Louisiana. Louisiana 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 Sawmill Rd?

Sawmill Rd in St. Helena, Louisiana has a deck rating of 5/9, superstructure rating of 5/9, and substructure rating of 4/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.

How often is Sawmill Rd inspected?

Sawmill Rd'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 700 vehicles per day.

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

FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. Sawmill Rd 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 Sawmill Rd?

Sawmill Rd has an NBI inventory load rating of 18.1 metric tons.

Who is responsible for maintaining Sawmill Rd?

Sawmill Rd is owned and maintained by County Highway Agency.

How old is Sawmill Rd and does age affect safety?

Sawmill Rd was built in 1964, making it 62 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.