US285 ML
Carrying US285 ML over PONCHA CREEK
5.0 MI S OF JCT US50, Chaffee, Colorado
Data updated May 2026
FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.
Bridge Snapshot: US285 ML
The US285 ML bridge in Chaffee, Colorado carries US285 ML over PONCHA CREEK. It was built in 1938, making it 88 years old today. It was last reconstructed in 1965, extending its service life. The structure is built primarily of concrete and spans 2 sections, stretching 7.3 meters (24 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 2,800 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 culvert at 6/9. 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 20.4 metric tons.
Sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for refresh cadence and NBI release vintage.
How US285 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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
- 1938
- Last Reconstructed
- 1965
- Material
- Concrete
- Number of Spans
- 2
- Structure Length
- 7.3 m (24 ft)
- Deck Width
- 18.6 m (61 ft)
- Owner
- State Highway Agency
- Avg Daily Traffic
- 2,800 vehicles/day
- Structure Number
- K-12-E
Location
Data Source
FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI).
FHWA NBI Program ↗How to read this record
This page shows what the last federal inspection recorded, not whether US285 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 US285 ML against other structures in Chaffee 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 US285 ML?
US285 ML in Chaffee, Colorado on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.
How often is US285 ML inspected?
US285 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 2,800 vehicles per day.
What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?
FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. US285 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 US285 ML?
US285 ML has an NBI inventory load rating of 20.4 metric tons.
Who is responsible for maintaining US285 ML?
US285 ML is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.
How old is US285 ML and does age affect safety?
US285 ML was built in 1938, making it 88 years old and last reconstructed in 1965.
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.