USH 53
Carrying USH 53 over OTTER CREEK
2.1M N JCT CTH V, Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Data updated May 2026
FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.
Bridge Snapshot: USH 53
The USH 53 bridge in Eau Claire, Wisconsin carries USH 53 over OTTER CREEK. It was built in 1985, making it 41 years old today. The structure is built primarily of steel and spans 3 sections, stretching 13.8 meters (45 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 1,200 vehicles, placing it in the moderately-trafficked tier of Wisconsin 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. At least one major component here scores 4 or below, which produces a Poor condition classification under FHWA's current reporting rules. Its NBI inventory load rating is 19.4 metric tons.
Sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for refresh cadence and NBI release vintage.
How USH 53 compares
Live comparison across Wisconsin.
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
- 1985
- Material
- Steel
- Number of Spans
- 3
- Structure Length
- 13.8 m (45 ft)
- Owner
- State Highway Agency
- Avg Daily Traffic
- 1,200 vehicles/day
- Structure Number
- B18007000000000
Location
Data Source
FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI).
FHWA NBI Program ↗How to read this record
USH 53 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 USH 53 against other structures in Eau Claire and across Wisconsin. Wisconsin 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 USH 53?
USH 53 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.
How often is USH 53 inspected?
USH 53'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 1,200 vehicles per day.
What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?
FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. USH 53 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 USH 53?
USH 53 has an NBI inventory load rating of 19.4 metric tons.
Who is responsible for maintaining USH 53?
USH 53 is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.
How old is USH 53 and does age affect safety?
USH 53 was built in 1985, making it 41 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.