US281, K4 HWY
Carrying US281, K4 HWY over BLOOD CREEK DRAINAGE
4.27 MI NW EJCT K4, Barton, Kansas
Data updated May 2026
FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.
Bridge Snapshot: US281, K4 HWY
The US281, K4 HWY bridge in Barton, Kansas carries US281, K4 HWY over BLOOD CREEK DRAINAGE. It was built in 1932, making it 94 years old today. It was last reconstructed in 1964, extending its service life. The structure is built primarily of concrete and spans 6 sections, stretching 15.7 meters (52 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 1,750 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 4/9. The weakest component sits in poor condition. A component scored 4 or below, placing this bridge in the federal Poor condition category rather than declaring it unsafe or closed. Its NBI inventory load rating is 14.5 metric tons.
Sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for refresh cadence and NBI release vintage.
How US281, K4 HWY 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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
- 1932
- Last Reconstructed
- 1964
- Material
- Concrete
- Number of Spans
- 6
- Structure Length
- 15.7 m (52 ft)
- Deck Width
- 16.0 m (52 ft)
- Owner
- State Highway Agency
- Avg Daily Traffic
- 1,750 vehicles/day
- Structure Number
- 999928100050271
Location
Data Source
FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI).
FHWA NBI Program ↗How to read this record
US281, K4 HWY 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 US281, K4 HWY against other structures in Barton 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 US281, K4 HWY?
US281, K4 HWY in Barton, Kansas on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.
How often is US281, K4 HWY inspected?
US281, K4 HWY'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 1,750 vehicles per day.
What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?
FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. US281, K4 HWY 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 US281, K4 HWY?
US281, K4 HWY has an NBI inventory load rating of 14.5 metric tons.
Who is responsible for maintaining US281, K4 HWY?
US281, K4 HWY is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.
How old is US281, K4 HWY and does age affect safety?
US281, K4 HWY was built in 1932, making it 94 years old and last reconstructed in 1964.
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.