I26 US19 23
Carrying I26 US19 23 over SR1557 IVY CREEK
0.5 MI.N.JCT.SR2207, Buncombe, North Carolina
Inventory: FHWA NBI 2024 · last ETL August 2026
FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.
I26 US19 23 in Buncombe, North Carolina is rated Fair in the FHWA's 2024 National Bridge Inventory.
Built in 1975, it carries 3 rated components on the inspecting agency's 0-9 scale, and its weakest reported component scores 5. The lowest applicable rating sets the federal condition category, so this Fair 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 NC:000000000210429
INTERSTATE-ERA · STEEL · LONG-SPAN-RUN · SUB-LED · HEAVY-ADT · STANDARD-LOAD · CAT-FAIR
- INTERSTATE-ERA 1950–1979
- STEEL Steel
- LONG-SPAN-RUN 5 spans
- SUB-LED Substructure-led
- HEAVY-ADT Heavy ADT
- STANDARD-LOAD Standard load
- CAT-FAIR Fair
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: I26 US19 23
The I26 US19 23 bridge in Buncombe, North Carolina carries I26 US19 23 over SR1557 IVY CREEK. It was built in 1975, making it 51 years old today. It was last reconstructed in 1995, extending its service life. The structure is built primarily of steel and spans 5 sections, stretching 122.5 meters (402 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 23,000 vehicles, placing it in the heavily-trafficked tier of North Carolina bridges. It is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.
The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 6/9, superstructure at 6/9, substructure at 5/9. The weakest component sits in fair condition. All reported major components score above the Poor range.
How I26 US19 23 compares
Age against the county: built in 1975, earlier than 261 of Buncombe's 555 bridges with a recorded construction year (47%), against a county median build year of 1973. This is one of the newer structures in its county.
Live comparison across North Carolina bridges with a recorded inventory load rating (19,160 of 19,210 rated).
I26 US19 23 vs every rated North Carolina bridge
Inventory load rating (metric tons), FHWA NBI, this state
40 Top 55% higher than 45% of 19,160 bridges
rated North Carolina 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.
Buncombe inventory by recorded NBI category
Exclusive Good/Fair/Poor bands across all 555 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
- 1975
- Last Reconstructed
- 1995
- Material
- Steel
- Number of Spans
- 5
- Structure Length
- 122.5 m (402 ft)
- Deck Width
- 25.1 m (82 ft)
- Owner
- State Highway Agency
- Avg Daily Traffic
- 23,000 vehicles/day
- Structure Number
- 000000000210429
Condition Analysis
- • At 6/9, the deck (driving surface) shows fair condition, with minor wear flagged for upkeep.
- • At 6/9, the superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) shows fair condition, with minor wear flagged for upkeep.
- • The substructure (piers and abutments) is in fair condition (5/9), with minor deterioration that may require routine maintenance.
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 I26 US19 23 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 I26 US19 23 against other structures in Buncombe and across North Carolina. North Carolina 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 I26 US19 23?
I26 US19 23 in Buncombe, North Carolina has a deck rating of 6/9, superstructure rating of 6/9, and substructure rating of 5/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.
How often is I26 US19 23 inspected?
I26 US19 23'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 23,000 vehicles per day.
What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?
FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. I26 US19 23 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 I26 US19 23?
I26 US19 23 has an NBI inventory load rating of 39.9 metric tons.
Who is responsible for maintaining I26 US19 23?
I26 US19 23 is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.
How old is I26 US19 23 and does age affect safety?
I26 US19 23 was built in 1975, making it 51 years old and last reconstructed in 1995.
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.