PLANT ROAD K
Carrying PLANT ROAD K over LONG CREEK
APPROX. 8000' E. OF RD. H, Des Moines, Iowa
Data updated May 2026
FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.
Bridge Snapshot: PLANT ROAD K
The PLANT ROAD K bridge in Des Moines, Iowa carries PLANT ROAD K over LONG CREEK. It was built in 1905, making it 121 years old today. The structure is built primarily of steel and spans 1 section, stretching 24.4 meters (80 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 10 vehicles, placing it in the lower-traffic tier of Iowa bridges. It is owned and maintained by NASA.
The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 5/9, superstructure at 5/9, substructure at 5/9. The weakest component sits in fair condition. None of this bridge's reported major components fall into the Poor condition range. Its NBI inventory load rating is 6.9 metric tons.
Sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for refresh cadence and NBI release vintage.
How PLANT ROAD K compares
Live comparison across Iowa.
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
- 1905
- Material
- Steel
- Number of Spans
- 1
- Structure Length
- 24.4 m (80 ft)
- Deck Width
- 5.2 m (17 ft)
- Owner
- NASA
- Avg Daily Traffic
- 10 vehicles/day
- Structure Number
- DAPAMCIOW005403
Location
Data Source
FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI).
FHWA NBI Program ↗Condition Analysis
- • The deck (driving surface) rates fair at 5/9, minor deterioration that routine maintenance should address.
- • At 5/9, the superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) shows fair condition, with minor wear flagged for upkeep.
- • The substructure (piers and abutments) is in fair condition (5/9), with minor deterioration that may require routine maintenance.
How to read this record
This page shows what the last federal inspection recorded, not whether PLANT ROAD K 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 PLANT ROAD K against other structures in Des Moines and across Iowa. Iowa 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 PLANT ROAD K?
PLANT ROAD K in Des Moines, Iowa has a deck rating of 5/9, superstructure rating of 5/9, and substructure rating of 5/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.
How often is PLANT ROAD K inspected?
PLANT ROAD K'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 10 vehicles per day.
What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?
FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. PLANT ROAD K 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 PLANT ROAD K?
PLANT ROAD K has an NBI inventory load rating of 6.9 metric tons.
Who is responsible for maintaining PLANT ROAD K?
PLANT ROAD K is owned and maintained by NASA.
How old is PLANT ROAD K and does age affect safety?
PLANT ROAD K was built in 1905, making it 121 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.