FHWA NBI 2024 Inspection record Public-domain dataset

US-81 ALT NL-SL

Carrying US-81 ALT NL-SL over DRY TURKEY CR DRAIN

0.34 MI W I135, McPherson, Kansas

Data updated May 2026

FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.

Fair
18 t Inventory load rating

Bridge Snapshot: US-81 ALT NL-SL

The US-81 ALT NL-SL bridge in McPherson, Kansas carries US-81 ALT NL-SL over DRY TURKEY CR DRAIN. It was built in 1967, making it 59 years old today. It was last reconstructed in 1995, extending its service life. The structure is built primarily of concrete and spans 3 sections, stretching 9.5 meters (31 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 2,765 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 culvert 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 18.1 metric tons.

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

How US-81 ALT NL-SL compares

▼ 11.0
Load rating vs Kansas average (29.1 t)
Bottom 23%
Lower load rating than 77% of Kansas bridges
577
Bridges in McPherson · 4 in Poor condition
US-81 ALT NL-SL 18.1 t
Kansas average 29.1 t

Live comparison across Kansas.

Historical Sufficiency Rating

PlainBridge-computed
79.7 / 100 - historical 50–79.9 band
Structural adequacy /55
37.4
Serviceability /30
29.0
Essentiality /15
13.3
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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

Culvert
6/9
Fair (5–6)
Inventory Load Rating
18.1 t
NBI inventory level (metric tons)
Overall Condition
Fair

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

Structural Details

Year Built
1967
Last Reconstructed
1995
Material
Concrete
Number of Spans
3
Structure Length
9.5 m (31 ft)
Deck Width
39.6 m (130 ft)
Owner
State Highway Agency
Avg Daily Traffic
2,765 vehicles/day
Structure Number
9999081B0590841

How to read this record

This page shows what the last federal inspection recorded, not whether US-81 ALT NL-SL 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 ALT NL-SL against other structures in McPherson 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 ALT NL-SL?

US-81 ALT NL-SL in McPherson, Kansas on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.

How often is US-81 ALT NL-SL inspected?

US-81 ALT NL-SL'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 2,765 vehicles per day.

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

FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. US-81 ALT NL-SL 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 US-81 ALT NL-SL?

US-81 ALT NL-SL has an NBI inventory load rating of 18.1 metric tons.

Who is responsible for maintaining US-81 ALT NL-SL?

US-81 ALT NL-SL is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.

How old is US-81 ALT NL-SL and does age affect safety?

US-81 ALT NL-SL was built in 1967, making it 59 years old and last reconstructed in 1995.

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.