OLD FT THOMPSON RD
Carrying OLD FT THOMPSON RD over SOLDIER CREEK
1 Mi. So. of Ft. Thompson, Buffalo, South Dakota
Data updated May 2026
FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.
Bridge Snapshot: OLD FT THOMPSON RD
The OLD FT THOMPSON RD bridge in Buffalo, South Dakota carries OLD FT THOMPSON RD over SOLDIER CREEK. It was built in 1973, making it 53 years old today. The structure is built primarily of steel continuous and spans 2 sections, stretching 34.5 meters (113 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 50 vehicles, placing it in the lower-traffic tier of South Dakota bridges. It is owned and maintained by Army Corps of Engineers.
The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 6/9, 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 20.7 metric tons.
Sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for refresh cadence and NBI release vintage.
How OLD FT THOMPSON RD compares
Live comparison across South Dakota.
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
- 1973
- Material
- Steel Continuous
- Number of Spans
- 2
- Structure Length
- 34.5 m (113 ft)
- Deck Width
- 10.2 m (33 ft)
- Owner
- Army Corps of Engineers
- Avg Daily Traffic
- 50 vehicles/day
- Structure Number
- CEPMROSD0000018
Location
Data Source
FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI).
FHWA NBI Program ↗Condition Analysis
- • The deck (driving surface) is in fair condition (6/9), with minor deterioration that may require routine maintenance.
- • The superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) is in fair condition (6/9), with minor deterioration that may require routine maintenance.
- • The substructure (piers and abutments) rates good at 7/9, with no significant deterioration on file.
How to read this record
This page shows what the last federal inspection recorded, not whether OLD FT THOMPSON RD 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 OLD FT THOMPSON RD against other structures in Buffalo and across South Dakota. South Dakota 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 OLD FT THOMPSON RD?
OLD FT THOMPSON RD in Buffalo, South Dakota has a deck rating of 6/9, superstructure rating of 6/9, and substructure rating of 7/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.
How often is OLD FT THOMPSON RD inspected?
OLD FT THOMPSON RD'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 50 vehicles per day.
What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?
FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. OLD FT THOMPSON RD 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 OLD FT THOMPSON RD?
OLD FT THOMPSON RD has an NBI inventory load rating of 20.7 metric tons.
Who is responsible for maintaining OLD FT THOMPSON RD?
OLD FT THOMPSON RD is owned and maintained by Army Corps of Engineers.
How old is OLD FT THOMPSON RD and does age affect safety?
OLD FT THOMPSON RD 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.
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.