FHWA NBI 2024 Inspection record Public-domain dataset

US-81 HWY SB

Carrying US-81 HWY SB over K-106 HWY

US-81/K-106 NJCT, Ottawa, Kansas

Data updated May 2026

FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.

Good
51 t Inventory load rating

Bridge Snapshot: US-81 HWY SB

The US-81 HWY SB bridge in Ottawa, Kansas carries US-81 HWY SB over K-106 HWY. It was built in 1996, making it 30 years old today. The structure is built primarily of steel continuous and spans 3 sections, stretching 80.7 meters (265 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 3,345 vehicles, placing it in the moderately-trafficked tier of Kansas 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 8/9. The weakest component sits in good condition. No reported major component scores in the Poor range under the current federal condition thresholds. Its NBI inventory load rating is 51.2 metric tons.

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

How US-81 HWY SB compares

▲ 22.1
Load rating vs Kansas average (29.1 t)
Top 6%
Higher load rating than 94% of Kansas bridges
295
Bridges in Ottawa · 14 in Poor condition
US-81 HWY SB 51.2 t
Kansas average 29.1 t

Live comparison across Kansas.

Historical Sufficiency Rating

PlainBridge-computed
94.7 / 100 - historical 80–100 band
Structural adequacy /55
55.0
Serviceability /30
25.0
Essentiality /15
14.7
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
7/9
Good (7–9)
Substructure
8/9
Good (7–9)
Inventory Load Rating
51.2 t
NBI inventory level (metric tons)
Overall Condition
Good

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

Structural Details

Year Built
1996
Material
Steel Continuous
Number of Spans
3
Structure Length
80.7 m (265 ft)
Deck Width
12.8 m (42 ft)
Owner
State Highway Agency
Avg Daily Traffic
3,345 vehicles/day
Structure Number
999908100720481

Condition Analysis

  • At 7/9, the deck (driving surface) is in good shape and shows no significant wear.
  • At 7/9, the superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) is in good shape and shows no significant wear.
  • The substructure (piers and abutments) rates good at 8/9, with no significant deterioration on file.

How to read this record

This page shows what the last federal inspection recorded, not whether US-81 HWY SB 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 US-81 HWY SB against other structures in Ottawa and across Kansas. Kansas 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 US-81 HWY SB?

US-81 HWY SB in Ottawa, Kansas has a deck rating of 7/9, superstructure rating of 7/9, and substructure rating of 8/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.

How often is US-81 HWY SB inspected?

US-81 HWY SB'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 3,345 vehicles per day.

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

FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. US-81 HWY SB is currently shown as Good condition from its component ratings; that category is not a live closure or safety decision.

What is the inventory load rating for US-81 HWY SB?

US-81 HWY SB has an NBI inventory load rating of 51.2 metric tons.

Who is responsible for maintaining US-81 HWY SB?

US-81 HWY SB is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.

How old is US-81 HWY SB and does age affect safety?

US-81 HWY SB was built in 1996, making it 30 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.