I26 LT LN
Carrying I26 LT LN over NOLICHUCKY RIVER
2.2 MI. S. SR 81, Unicoi, Tennessee
Data updated May 2026
FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.
Bridge Snapshot: I26 LT LN
The I26 LT LN bridge in Unicoi, Tennessee carries I26 LT LN over NOLICHUCKY RIVER. It was built in 1977, making it 49 years old today. The structure is built primarily of prestressed concrete and spans 8 sections, stretching 168.0 meters (551 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 12,654 vehicles, placing it in the heavily-trafficked tier of Tennessee bridges. It is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.
The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 7/9, superstructure at 7/9, 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 32.4 metric tons.
Sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for refresh cadence and NBI release vintage.
How I26 LT LN compares
Live comparison across Tennessee.
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
- 1977
- Material
- Prestressed Concrete
- Number of Spans
- 8
- Structure Length
- 168.0 m (551 ft)
- Deck Width
- 13.6 m (45 ft)
- Owner
- State Highway Agency
- Avg Daily Traffic
- 12,654 vehicles/day
- Structure Number
- 86I00260034
Location
Data Source
FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI).
FHWA NBI Program ↗Condition Analysis
- • The deck (driving surface) is in good condition (7/9), showing no significant deterioration.
- • The superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) is in good condition (7/9), showing no significant deterioration.
- • The substructure (piers and abutments) rates fair at 6/9, minor deterioration that routine maintenance should address.
How to read this record
This page shows what the last federal inspection recorded, not whether I26 LT LN 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 I26 LT LN against other structures in Unicoi and across Tennessee. Tennessee 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 I26 LT LN?
I26 LT LN in Unicoi, Tennessee has a deck rating of 7/9, superstructure rating of 7/9, and substructure rating of 6/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.
How often is I26 LT LN inspected?
I26 LT LN'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 12,654 vehicles per day.
What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?
FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. I26 LT LN 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 I26 LT LN?
I26 LT LN has an NBI inventory load rating of 32.4 metric tons.
Who is responsible for maintaining I26 LT LN?
I26 LT LN is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.
How old is I26 LT LN and does age affect safety?
I26 LT LN was built in 1977, making it 49 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.
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.