FHWA NBI 2024 Inspection record Public-domain dataset

ROAD 238

Carrying ROAD 238 over CLEAR CREEK 027

19M W GLENDIVE, Dawson, Montana

Data updated May 2026

FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.

Poor
12 t Inventory load rating

Bridge Snapshot: ROAD 238

The ROAD 238 bridge in Dawson, Montana carries ROAD 238 over CLEAR CREEK 027. It was built in 1979, making it 47 years old today. The structure is built primarily of wood or timber and spans 2 sections, stretching 11.9 meters (39 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 50 vehicles, placing it in the lower-traffic tier of Montana bridges. It is owned and maintained by County Highway Agency.

The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 6/9, superstructure at 6/9, substructure at 4/9. 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 11.8 metric tons.

Sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for refresh cadence and NBI release vintage.

How ROAD 238 compares

▼ 18.9
Load rating vs Montana average (30.7 t)
Bottom 5%
Lower load rating than 95% of Montana bridges
109
Bridges in Dawson · 7 in Poor condition
ROAD 238 11.8 t
Montana average 30.7 t

Live comparison across Montana.

Historical Sufficiency Rating

PlainBridge-computed
42.8 / 100 - historical 20–49.9 band
Structural adequacy /55
0.0
Serviceability /30
28.0
Essentiality /15
14.8
Special reductions
0

FHWA discontinued this calculated item; it does not determine current condition, funding eligibility, posting, or closure. How the historical reference is calculated.

Condition Ratings

Deck
6/9
Fair (5–6)
Superstructure
6/9
Fair (5–6)
Substructure
4/9
Poor (1–4)
Inventory Load Rating
11.8 t
NBI inventory level (metric tons)
Overall Condition
Poor

Full 0–9 scale + sufficiency-rating breakdown: how condition ratings work.

Structural Details

Year Built
1979
Material
Wood or Timber
Number of Spans
2
Structure Length
11.9 m (39 ft)
Deck Width
7.4 m (24 ft)
Owner
County Highway Agency
Avg Daily Traffic
50 vehicles/day
Structure Number
L11002017+05001

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) rates fair at 6/9, minor deterioration that routine maintenance should address.
  • At 4/9, the substructure (piers and abutments) is in poor shape, with advanced wear flagged for priority repair.

How to read this record

ROAD 238 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 ROAD 238 against other structures in Dawson and across Montana. Montana 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 ROAD 238?

ROAD 238 in Dawson, Montana has a deck rating of 6/9, superstructure rating of 6/9, and substructure rating of 4/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.

How often is ROAD 238 inspected?

ROAD 238'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. ROAD 238 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 ROAD 238?

ROAD 238 has an NBI inventory load rating of 11.8 metric tons.

Who is responsible for maintaining ROAD 238?

ROAD 238 is owned and maintained by County Highway Agency.

How old is ROAD 238 and does age affect safety?

ROAD 238 was built in 1979, making it 47 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.

Data sourced from the Federal Highway Administration National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainBridges

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.