US281 HWY
Carrying US281 HWY over PARADISE CREEK
3.05MI S WJCT K18, Russell, Kansas
Data updated May 2026
FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.
Bridge Snapshot: US281 HWY
The US281 HWY bridge in Russell, Kansas carries US281 HWY over PARADISE CREEK. It was built in 1940, making it 86 years old today. It was last reconstructed in 2003, extending its service life. The structure is built primarily of steel continuous and spans 4 sections, stretching 71.1 meters (233 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 635 vehicles, placing it in the lower-traffic 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 8/9, substructure at 8/9. The weakest component sits in good condition. None of this bridge's reported major components fall into the Poor condition range. Its NBI inventory load rating is 25.4 metric tons.
Sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for refresh cadence and NBI release vintage.
How US281 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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
- 1940
- Last Reconstructed
- 2003
- Material
- Steel Continuous
- Number of Spans
- 4
- Structure Length
- 71.1 m (233 ft)
- Deck Width
- 8.5 m (28 ft)
- Owner
- State Highway Agency
- Avg Daily Traffic
- 635 vehicles/day
- Structure Number
- 999928100840431
Location
Data Source
FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI).
FHWA NBI Program ↗Condition Analysis
- • At 7/9, the deck (driving surface) is in good shape and shows no significant wear.
- • At 8/9, the superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) is in good shape and shows no significant wear.
- • At 8/9, 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 US281 HWY 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 US281 HWY against other structures in Russell 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 HWY?
US281 HWY in Russell, Kansas has a deck rating of 7/9, superstructure rating of 8/9, and substructure rating of 8/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.
How often is US281 HWY inspected?
US281 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 635 vehicles per day.
What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?
FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. US281 HWY 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 US281 HWY?
US281 HWY has an NBI inventory load rating of 25.4 metric tons.
Who is responsible for maintaining US281 HWY?
US281 HWY is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.
How old is US281 HWY and does age affect safety?
US281 HWY was built in 1940, making it 86 years old and last reconstructed in 2003.
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.