SH 86 ML
Carrying SH 86 ML over KIOWA CREEK
W. EDGE OF KIOWA, Elbert, Colorado
Data updated May 2026
FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.
Bridge Snapshot: SH 86 ML
The SH 86 ML bridge in Elbert, Colorado carries SH 86 ML over KIOWA CREEK. It was built in 1948, making it 78 years old today. The structure is built primarily of steel continuous and spans 3 sections, stretching 62.0 meters (203 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 4,900 vehicles, placing it in the moderately-trafficked tier of Colorado bridges. It is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.
The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 4/9, superstructure at 6/9, substructure at 6/9. The weakest component sits in poor condition. Because at least one major component scores 4 or lower, this bridge falls in FHWA's Poor condition category. That category is not a closure order. Its NBI inventory load rating is 22.8 metric tons.
Sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for refresh cadence and NBI release vintage.
How SH 86 ML compares
Live comparison across Colorado.
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
- 1948
- Material
- Steel Continuous
- Number of Spans
- 3
- Structure Length
- 62.0 m (203 ft)
- Deck Width
- 9.3 m (31 ft)
- Owner
- State Highway Agency
- Avg Daily Traffic
- 4,900 vehicles/day
- Structure Number
- G-19-B
Location
Data Source
FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI).
FHWA NBI Program ↗Condition Analysis
- • The deck (driving surface) is in poor condition (4/9), showing advanced deterioration that may require priority repair.
- • At 6/9, the superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) shows fair condition, with minor wear flagged for upkeep.
- • The substructure (piers and abutments) rates fair at 6/9, minor deterioration that routine maintenance should address.
How to read this record
SH 86 ML 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 SH 86 ML against other structures in Elbert and across Colorado. Colorado 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 SH 86 ML?
SH 86 ML in Elbert, Colorado has a deck rating of 4/9, superstructure rating of 6/9, and substructure rating of 6/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.
How often is SH 86 ML inspected?
SH 86 ML'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 4,900 vehicles per day.
What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?
FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. SH 86 ML 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 SH 86 ML?
SH 86 ML has an NBI inventory load rating of 22.8 metric tons.
Who is responsible for maintaining SH 86 ML?
SH 86 ML is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.
How old is SH 86 ML and does age affect safety?
SH 86 ML was built in 1948, making it 78 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.