US-81 ALT HWY, SB
Carrying US-81 ALT HWY, SB over DRY TURKEY CREEK
1.75 MI W I135, McPherson, Kansas
Data updated May 2026
FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.
Bridge Snapshot: US-81 ALT HWY, SB
The US-81 ALT HWY, SB bridge in McPherson, Kansas carries US-81 ALT HWY, SB over DRY TURKEY CREEK. It was built in 1969, making it 57 years old today. The structure is built primarily of concrete continuous and spans 5 sections, stretching 71.3 meters (234 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 a deck rating of 5/9, superstructure at 6/9, 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 33.6 metric tons.
Sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for refresh cadence and NBI release vintage.
How US-81 ALT HWY, SB compares
Live comparison across Kansas.
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
- 1969
- Material
- Concrete Continuous
- Number of Spans
- 5
- Structure Length
- 71.3 m (234 ft)
- Deck Width
- 12.8 m (42 ft)
- Owner
- State Highway Agency
- Avg Daily Traffic
- 2,765 vehicles/day
- Structure Number
- 9999081B0590851
Location
Data Source
FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI).
FHWA NBI Program ↗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) is in fair condition (6/9), with minor deterioration that may require routine maintenance.
- • At 7/9, the substructure (piers and abutments) is in good shape and shows no significant wear.
How to read this record
This page shows what the last federal inspection recorded, not whether US-81 ALT 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 ALT HWY, SB 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 HWY, SB?
US-81 ALT HWY, SB in McPherson, Kansas has a deck rating of 5/9, superstructure rating of 6/9, and substructure rating of 7/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.
How often is US-81 ALT HWY, SB inspected?
US-81 ALT 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 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 HWY, SB 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 HWY, SB?
US-81 ALT HWY, SB has an NBI inventory load rating of 33.6 metric tons.
Who is responsible for maintaining US-81 ALT HWY, SB?
US-81 ALT HWY, SB is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.
How old is US-81 ALT HWY, SB and does age affect safety?
US-81 ALT HWY, SB was built in 1969, making it 57 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.