I 35W
Carrying I 35W over UP RR Cliff Rd (CSAH32)
0.5 MI N OF JCT TH 13, Dakota, Minnesota
Inventory: FHWA NBI 2024 · last ETL August 2026
FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.
I 35W in Dakota, Minnesota sits above 36% of rated Minnesota bridges on inventory load rating (33 t), while its 1959 build year is earlier than 91% of Dakota's recorded-year cohort (259 bridges).
I 35W in Dakota, Minnesota is rated Poor in the FHWA's 2024 National Bridge Inventory. Built in 1959, it carries 3 rated components on the inspecting agency's 0-9 scale, and its weakest reported component scores 4. The lowest applicable rating sets the federal condition category, so this Poor result describes the weakest reported component rather than the structure as a whole. No NBI category is a closure decision or a live crossing-safety verdict.
NBI record plate
Structure MN:6583
INTERSTATE-ERA · STEEL · MULTI-SPAN · SUPER-LED · HEAVY-ADT · STANDARD-LOAD · CAT-POOR
- INTERSTATE-ERA 1950–1979
- STEEL Steel
- MULTI-SPAN 2 spans
- SUPER-LED Superstructure-led
- HEAVY-ADT Heavy ADT
- STANDARD-LOAD Standard load
- CAT-POOR Poor
Inspection-sheet codes from this record’s year, material family, spans, controlling component, ADT, inventory load, and NBI category, not a live closure verdict.
Bridge Snapshot: I 35W
The I 35W bridge in Dakota, Minnesota carries I 35W over UP RR Cliff Rd (CSAH32). It was built in 1959, making it 67 years old today. The structure is built primarily of steel continuous and spans 2 sections, stretching 47.2 meters (155 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 94,603 vehicles, placing it in the heavily-trafficked tier of Minnesota bridges. It is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.
The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 6/9, superstructure at 4/9, substructure at 5/9. The weakest component sits in poor condition. At least one major component here scores 4 or below, which produces a Poor condition classification under FHWA's current reporting rules.
How I 35W compares
Age against the county: built in 1959, earlier than 236 of Dakota's 259 bridges with a recorded construction year (91%), against a county median build year of 1987. Age is not a defect on its own, but it is the population from which future Poor ratings are drawn.
Live comparison across Minnesota bridges with a recorded inventory load rating (13,532 rated).
I 35W vs every rated Minnesota bridge
Inventory load rating (metric tons), FHWA NBI, this state
33 Top 64% higher than 36% of 13,532 bridges
rated Minnesota bridges, bucketed by value
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more bridges. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source FHWA National Bridge Inventory · August 2026
Condition Ratings
Full 0–9 scale + sufficiency-rating breakdown: how condition ratings work.
Reported 0–9 component ratings from the FHWA NBI. The highlighted component is the lowest reported input to this record’s current condition category; it is not a closure or live crossing-safety decision.
Dakota inventory by recorded NBI category
Exclusive Good/Fair/Poor bands across all 259 bridges in this county. Orthogonal to this structure's component profile above: a county catalog share, not a live crossing-safety verdict.
Structural Details
- Year Built
- 1959
- Material
- Steel Continuous
- Number of Spans
- 2
- Structure Length
- 47.2 m (155 ft)
- Deck Width
- 40.0 m (131 ft)
- Owner
- State Highway Agency
- Avg Daily Traffic
- 94,603 vehicles/day
- Structure Number
- 6583
Condition Analysis
- • The deck (driving surface) is in fair condition (6/9), with minor deterioration that may require routine maintenance.
- • At 4/9, the superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) is in poor shape, with advanced wear on file for this vintage.
- • At 5/9, the substructure (piers and abutments) shows fair condition, with minor wear flagged for upkeep.
Location
Data Source
FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI).
FHWA NBI Program ↗How to read this record
I 35W 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 I 35W against other structures in Dakota and across Minnesota. Minnesota 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 I 35W?
I 35W in Dakota, Minnesota has a deck rating of 6/9, superstructure rating of 4/9, and substructure rating of 5/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.
How often is I 35W inspected?
I 35W'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 94,603 vehicles per day.
What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?
FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. I 35W 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 I 35W?
I 35W has an NBI inventory load rating of 33.3 metric tons.
Who is responsible for maintaining I 35W?
I 35W is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.
How old is I 35W and does age affect safety?
I 35W was built in 1959, making it 67 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.
Share this inspection record
Send this source-bounded record or download its data card. An NBI condition category is not a closure or live crossing-safety verdict.
Every figure on PlainBridges is rendered directly from federal source data, no number is typed in by an editor. Component ratings, ADT, and condition category on this page are copied from the NBI record for this structure; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2024 NBI release. NBI condition categories reflect the latest reported inventory record, not a live safety, closure, or travel decision.