SH 21B SB ML
Carrying SH 21B SB ML over KETTLE CREEK
SBND POWERS, El Paso, Colorado
Data updated May 2026
FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.
Bridge Snapshot: SH 21B SB ML
The SH 21B SB ML bridge in El Paso, Colorado carries SH 21B SB ML over KETTLE CREEK. It was built in 2005, making it 21 years old today. The structure is built primarily of steel continuous and spans 3 sections, stretching 139.4 meters (457 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 37,000 vehicles, placing it in the heavily-trafficked tier of Colorado bridges. It is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.
The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 6/9, superstructure at 7/9, substructure at 7/9. 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 28.0 metric tons.
Sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for refresh cadence and NBI release vintage.
How SH 21B SB 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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
- 2005
- Material
- Steel Continuous
- Number of Spans
- 3
- Structure Length
- 139.4 m (457 ft)
- Deck Width
- 25.9 m (85 ft)
- Owner
- State Highway Agency
- Avg Daily Traffic
- 37,000 vehicles/day
- Structure Number
- I-17-MK
Location
Data Source
FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI).
FHWA NBI Program ↗Condition Analysis
- • At 6/9, the deck (driving surface) shows fair condition, with minor wear flagged for upkeep.
- • At 7/9, the superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) is in good shape and shows no significant wear.
- • 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 SH 21B SB ML 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 SH 21B SB ML against other structures in El Paso 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 21B SB ML?
SH 21B SB ML in El Paso, Colorado has a deck rating of 6/9, superstructure rating of 7/9, and substructure rating of 7/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.
How often is SH 21B SB ML inspected?
SH 21B SB 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 37,000 vehicles per day.
What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?
FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. SH 21B SB ML 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 SH 21B SB ML?
SH 21B SB ML has an NBI inventory load rating of 28.0 metric tons.
Who is responsible for maintaining SH 21B SB ML?
SH 21B SB ML is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.
How old is SH 21B SB ML and does age affect safety?
SH 21B SB ML was built in 2005, making it 21 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.