N32
Carrying N32 over UNION CREEK
0W MADISON, Madison, Nebraska
Inventory: FHWA NBI 2024 · last ETL August 2026
FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.
N32 in Madison, Nebraska sits above 41% of rated Nebraska bridges on inventory load rating (23 t), while its 1957 build year is earlier than 81% of Madison's recorded-year cohort (302 bridges).
N32 in Madison, Nebraska is rated Poor in the FHWA's 2024 National Bridge Inventory. Built in 1957, 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 NE:S032 03409
INTERSTATE-ERA · STEEL · MULTI-SPAN · DECK-LED · ARTERIAL-ADT · STANDARD-LOAD · CAT-POOR
- INTERSTATE-ERA 1950–1979
- STEEL Steel
- MULTI-SPAN 3 spans
- DECK-LED Deck-led
- ARTERIAL-ADT Arterial 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: N32
The N32 bridge in Madison, Nebraska carries N32 over UNION CREEK. It was built in 1957, making it 69 years old today. It was last reconstructed in 2014, extending its service life. The structure is built primarily of steel continuous and spans 3 sections, stretching 53.6 meters (176 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 2,045 vehicles, placing it in the moderately-trafficked tier of Nebraska bridges. It is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.
The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 4/9, superstructure at 7/9, substructure at 6/9. 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.
How N32 compares
Age against the county: built in 1957, earlier than 244 of Madison's 302 bridges with a recorded construction year (81%), against a county median build year of 1983. Age is not a defect on its own, but it is the population from which future Poor ratings are drawn.
Live comparison across Nebraska bridges with a recorded inventory load rating (15,392 of 15,398 rated).
N32 vs every rated Nebraska bridge
Inventory load rating (metric tons), FHWA NBI, this state
23 Top 59% higher than 41% of 15,392 bridges
rated Nebraska 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.
Madison inventory by recorded NBI category
Exclusive Good/Fair/Poor bands across all 302 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
- 1957
- Last Reconstructed
- 2014
- Material
- Steel Continuous
- Number of Spans
- 3
- Structure Length
- 53.6 m (176 ft)
- Deck Width
- 10.0 m (33 ft)
- Owner
- State Highway Agency
- Avg Daily Traffic
- 2,045 vehicles/day
- Structure Number
- S032 03409
Condition Analysis
- • The deck (driving surface) is in poor condition (4/9), showing advanced deterioration on the inspecting agency's 0-9 scale.
- • The superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) is in good condition (7/9), showing no significant deterioration.
- • The substructure (piers and abutments) is in fair condition (6/9), with minor deterioration that may require routine maintenance.
Location
Data Source
FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI).
FHWA NBI Program ↗How to read this record
N32 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 N32 against other structures in Madison and across Nebraska. Nebraska 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 N32?
N32 in Madison, Nebraska has a deck rating of 4/9, superstructure rating of 7/9, and substructure rating of 6/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.
How often is N32 inspected?
N32'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 2,045 vehicles per day.
What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?
FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. N32 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 N32?
N32 has an NBI inventory load rating of 23.0 metric tons.
Who is responsible for maintaining N32?
N32 is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.
How old is N32 and does age affect safety?
N32 was built in 1957, making it 69 years old and last reconstructed in 2014.
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.