FHWA NBI 2024 Inspection record Public-domain dataset

ROAD 261

Carrying ROAD 261 over CLEAR CREEK 040

12M SW GLENDIVE, Dawson, Montana

Data updated May 2026

FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.

Fair
86 t Inventory load rating

Bridge Snapshot: ROAD 261

The ROAD 261 bridge in Dawson, Montana carries ROAD 261 over CLEAR CREEK 040. It was built in 1986, making it 40 years old today. The structure is built primarily of steel and spans 3 sections, stretching 14.9 meters (49 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 21 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 culvert at 6/9. 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 86.2 metric tons.

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

How ROAD 261 compares

▲ 55.5
Load rating vs Montana average (30.7 t)
Top 3%
Higher load rating than 97% of Montana bridges
109
Bridges in Dawson · 7 in Poor condition
ROAD 261 86.2 t
Montana average 30.7 t

Live comparison across Montana.

Historical Sufficiency Rating

PlainBridge-computed
100.0 / 100 - historical 80–100 band
Structural adequacy /55
55.0
Serviceability /30
30.0
Essentiality /15
15.0
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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

Culvert
6/9
Fair (5–6)
Inventory Load Rating
86.2 t
NBI inventory level (metric tons)
Overall Condition
Fair

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

Structural Details

Year Built
1986
Material
Steel
Number of Spans
3
Structure Length
14.9 m (49 ft)
Owner
County Highway Agency
Avg Daily Traffic
21 vehicles/day
Structure Number
L11109010+08001

How to read this record

This page shows what the last federal inspection recorded, not whether ROAD 261 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 ROAD 261 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 261?

ROAD 261 in Dawson, Montana on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.

How often is ROAD 261 inspected?

ROAD 261'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 21 vehicles per day.

What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?

FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. ROAD 261 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 ROAD 261?

ROAD 261 has an NBI inventory load rating of 86.2 metric tons.

Who is responsible for maintaining ROAD 261?

ROAD 261 is owned and maintained by County Highway Agency.

How old is ROAD 261 and does age affect safety?

ROAD 261 was built in 1986, making it 40 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.