FHWA NBI 2024 Inspection record Public-domain dataset

GOLDEN STATE-S99

Carrying GOLDEN STATE-S99 over STATE ROUTE 99

10-MER-099-R36.34, Merced, California

Inventory: FHWA NBI 2024 · last ETL August 2026

FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.

Poor
32 t Inventory load rating Lower than 63% of rated California bridges

GOLDEN STATE-S99 in Merced, California is rated Poor in the FHWA's 2024 National Bridge Inventory.

Built in 1973, it carries 3 rated components on the inspecting agency's 0-9 scale, and its weakest reported component scores 4. The lowest applicable rating sets the federal condition category, so this Poor result describes the weakest reported component rather than the structure as a whole. No NBI category is a closure decision or a live crossing-safety verdict.

NBI record plate

Structure CA:39 0191K

INTERSTATE-ERA · PRESTRESS · MULTI-SPAN · DECK-LED · ARTERIAL-ADT · STANDARD-LOAD · CAT-POOR

  • INTERSTATE-ERA 1950–1979
  • PRESTRESS Prestressed concrete
  • MULTI-SPAN 2 spans
  • DECK-LED Deck-led
  • ARTERIAL-ADT Arterial ADT
  • STANDARD-LOAD Standard load
  • CAT-POOR Poor

Inspection-sheet codes from this record’s year, material family, spans, controlling component, ADT, inventory load, and NBI category, not a live closure verdict.

Bridge Snapshot: GOLDEN STATE-S99

The GOLDEN STATE-S99 bridge in Merced, California carries GOLDEN STATE-S99 over STATE ROUTE 99. It was built in 1973, making it 53 years old today. The structure is built primarily of prestressed concrete continuous and spans 2 sections, stretching 98.8 meters (324 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 4,200 vehicles, placing it in the moderately-trafficked tier of California bridges. It is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.

The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 4/9, superstructure at 7/9, substructure at 7/9. 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.

How GOLDEN STATE-S99 compares

▲ 0.3
Load rating vs California average (32.1 t; 25,538 of 25,848 rated)
528
Bridges in Merced · 44 in Poor condition

Age against the county: built in 1973, earlier than 164 of Merced's 528 bridges with a recorded construction year (31%), against a county median build year of 1966. This is one of the newer structures in its county.

GOLDEN STATE-S99 32.4 t
California average (25,538 of 25,848 rated) 32.1 t

Live comparison across California bridges with a recorded inventory load rating (25,538 of 25,848 rated).

GOLDEN STATE-S99 vs every rated California bridge

Inventory load rating (metric tons), FHWA NBI, this state

32 Top 63% higher than 37% of 25,538 bridges

rated California bridges, bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more bridges. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source FHWA National Bridge Inventory · August 2026

Condition Ratings

Deck
4/9
Poor (1–4)
Superstructure
7/9
Good (7–9)
Substructure
7/9
Good (7–9)
Inventory Load Rating
32.4 t
NBI inventory level (metric tons)
Overall Condition
Poor

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

Reported 0–9 component ratings from the FHWA NBI. The highlighted component is the lowest reported input to this record’s current condition category; it is not a closure or live crossing-safety decision.

Merced inventory by recorded NBI category

Exclusive Good/Fair/Poor bands across all 528 bridges in this county. Orthogonal to this structure's component profile above: a county catalog share, not a live crossing-safety verdict.

Structural Details

Year Built
1973
Material
Prestressed Concrete Continuous
Number of Spans
2
Structure Length
98.8 m (324 ft)
Deck Width
7.9 m (26 ft)
Owner
State Highway Agency
Avg Daily Traffic
4,200 vehicles/day
Structure Number
39 0191K

Condition Analysis

  • The deck (driving surface) rates poor at 4/9, with advanced deterioration recorded on the latest inspection.
  • The superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) is in good condition (7/9), showing no significant deterioration.
  • At 7/9, the substructure (piers and abutments) is in good shape and shows no significant wear.

How to read this record

GOLDEN STATE-S99 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 GOLDEN STATE-S99 against other structures in Merced and across California. California 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 GOLDEN STATE-S99?

GOLDEN STATE-S99 in Merced, California has a deck rating of 4/9, superstructure rating of 7/9, and substructure rating of 7/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.

How often is GOLDEN STATE-S99 inspected?

GOLDEN STATE-S99'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 4,200 vehicles per day.

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

FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. GOLDEN STATE-S99 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 GOLDEN STATE-S99?

GOLDEN STATE-S99 has an NBI inventory load rating of 32.4 metric tons.

Who is responsible for maintaining GOLDEN STATE-S99?

GOLDEN STATE-S99 is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.

How old is GOLDEN STATE-S99 and does age affect safety?

GOLDEN STATE-S99 was built in 1973, making it 53 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.

Data sourced from the Federal Highway Administration National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainBridges

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Send this source-bounded record or download its data card. An NBI condition category is not a closure or live crossing-safety verdict.

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Every figure on PlainBridges is rendered directly from federal source data, no number is typed in by an editor. Component ratings, ADT, and condition category on this page are copied from the NBI record for this structure; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2024 NBI release. NBI condition categories reflect the latest reported inventory record, not a live safety, closure, or travel decision.