FHWA NBI 2024 Inspection record Public-domain dataset

THIRD AVENUE S

Carrying THIRD AVENUE S over LITTLE CASINO CREEK 138

LEWISTOWN-3RD AVE S, Fergus, Montana

Data updated May 2026

FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.

Poor
5 t Inventory load rating

Bridge Snapshot: THIRD AVENUE S

The THIRD AVENUE S bridge in Fergus, Montana carries THIRD AVENUE S over LITTLE CASINO CREEK 138. It was built in 2006, making it 20 years old today. The structure is built primarily of wood or timber and spans 1 section, stretching 8.4 meters (28 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 100 vehicles, placing it in the lower-traffic tier of Montana bridges. It is owned and maintained by City/Municipal Highway Agency.

The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 4/9, superstructure at 4/9, substructure at 5/9. 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 4.5 metric tons.

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

How THIRD AVENUE S compares

▼ 26.2
Load rating vs Montana average (30.7 t)
Bottom 1%
Lower load rating than 99% of Montana bridges
155
Bridges in Fergus · 10 in Poor condition
THIRD AVENUE S 4.5 t
Montana average 30.7 t

Live comparison across Montana.

Historical Sufficiency Rating

PlainBridge-computed
38.0 / 100 - historical 20–49.9 band
Structural adequacy /55
0.0
Serviceability /30
23.0
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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

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

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

Structural Details

Year Built
2006
Material
Wood or Timber
Number of Spans
1
Structure Length
8.4 m (28 ft)
Deck Width
9.9 m (32 ft)
Owner
City/Municipal Highway Agency
Avg Daily Traffic
100 vehicles/day
Structure Number
M14071000+00801

Condition Analysis

  • At 4/9, the deck (driving surface) is in poor shape, with advanced wear flagged for priority repair.
  • At 4/9, the superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) is in poor shape, with advanced wear flagged for priority repair.
  • The substructure (piers and abutments) is in fair condition (5/9), with minor deterioration that may require routine maintenance.

How to read this record

THIRD AVENUE S 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 THIRD AVENUE S against other structures in Fergus 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 THIRD AVENUE S?

THIRD AVENUE S in Fergus, Montana has a deck rating of 4/9, superstructure rating of 4/9, and substructure rating of 5/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.

How often is THIRD AVENUE S inspected?

THIRD AVENUE S'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 100 vehicles per day.

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

FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. THIRD AVENUE S 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 THIRD AVENUE S?

THIRD AVENUE S has an NBI inventory load rating of 4.5 metric tons.

Who is responsible for maintaining THIRD AVENUE S?

THIRD AVENUE S is owned and maintained by City/Municipal Highway Agency.

How old is THIRD AVENUE S and does age affect safety?

THIRD AVENUE S was built in 2006, making it 20 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.