I85N US70W BYP.
Carrying I85N US70W BYP. over SR1401
0.2 MI. N. OF JCT. US70, Durham, North Carolina
Inventory: FHWA NBI 2024 · last ETL August 2026
FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.
I85N US70W BYP. in Durham, North Carolina sits above 80% of rated North Carolina bridges on inventory load rating (57 t), while its 1997 build year is earlier than 30% of Durham's recorded-year cohort (314 bridges).
I85N US70W BYP. in Durham, North Carolina is rated Good in the FHWA's 2024 National Bridge Inventory. Built in 1997, it carries 3 rated components on the inspecting agency's 0-9 scale, and its weakest reported component scores 7. The lowest applicable rating sets the federal condition category, so this Good 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:000000000630108
LATE-CENTURY · STEEL · MULTI-SPAN · TIED-CTRL · HEAVY-ADT · HEAVY-LOAD · CAT-GOOD
- LATE-CENTURY 1980–1999
- STEEL Steel
- MULTI-SPAN 2 spans
- TIED-CTRL Tied control
- HEAVY-ADT Heavy ADT
- HEAVY-LOAD Heavy load
- CAT-GOOD Good
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: I85N US70W BYP.
The I85N US70W BYP. bridge in Durham, North Carolina carries I85N US70W BYP. over SR1401. It was built in 1997, making it 29 years old today. The structure is built primarily of steel continuous and spans 2 sections, stretching 78.6 meters (258 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 24,000 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 7/9, superstructure at 8/9, substructure at 7/9. The weakest component sits in good condition. All reported major components score above the Poor range.
How I85N US70W BYP. compares
Age against the county: built in 1997, earlier than 95 of Durham's 314 bridges with a recorded construction year (30%), against a county median build year of 1985. 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).
I85N US70W BYP. vs every rated North Carolina bridge
Inventory load rating (metric tons), FHWA NBI, this state
57 Top 20% higher than 80% 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.
Durham inventory by recorded NBI category
Exclusive Good/Fair/Poor bands across all 314 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
- 1997
- Material
- Steel Continuous
- Number of Spans
- 2
- Structure Length
- 78.6 m (258 ft)
- Deck Width
- 21.0 m (69 ft)
- Owner
- State Highway Agency
- Avg Daily Traffic
- 24,000 vehicles/day
- Structure Number
- 000000000630108
Condition Analysis
- • The deck (driving surface) rates good at 7/9, with no significant deterioration on file.
- • The superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) is in good condition (8/9), showing no significant deterioration.
- • At 7/9, the substructure (piers and abutments) is in good shape and shows no significant wear.
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 I85N US70W BYP. 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 I85N US70W BYP. against other structures in Durham 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 I85N US70W BYP.?
I85N US70W BYP. in Durham, North Carolina has a deck rating of 7/9, superstructure rating of 8/9, and substructure rating of 7/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.
How often is I85N US70W BYP. inspected?
I85N US70W BYP.'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 24,000 vehicles per day.
What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?
FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. I85N US70W BYP. is currently shown as Good condition from its component ratings; that category is not a live closure or safety decision.
What is the inventory load rating for I85N US70W BYP.?
I85N US70W BYP. has an NBI inventory load rating of 57.1 metric tons.
Who is responsible for maintaining I85N US70W BYP.?
I85N US70W BYP. is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.
How old is I85N US70W BYP. and does age affect safety?
I85N US70W BYP. was built in 1997, making it 29 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.