US281
Carrying US281 over STREAM
1N ST. PAUL, Howard, Nebraska
Inventory: FHWA NBI 2024 · last ETL August 2026
FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.
US281 in Howard, Nebraska sits above 23% of rated Nebraska bridges on inventory load rating (22 t), while its 1962 build year is earlier than 85% of Howard's recorded-year cohort (161 bridges).
US281 in Howard, Nebraska is rated Good in the FHWA's 2024 National Bridge Inventory. Built in 1962, it carries 1 rated component 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 NE:S281 09391
INTERSTATE-ERA · CONCRETE · LONG-SPAN-RUN · CULVERT-LED · ARTERIAL-ADT · STANDARD-LOAD · CAT-GOOD
- INTERSTATE-ERA 1950–1979
- CONCRETE Concrete
- LONG-SPAN-RUN 4 spans
- CULVERT-LED Culvert-led
- ARTERIAL-ADT Arterial ADT
- STANDARD-LOAD Standard 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: US281
The US281 bridge in Howard, Nebraska carries US281 over STREAM. It was built in 1962, making it 64 years old today. It was last reconstructed in 1974, extending its service life. The structure is built primarily of concrete and spans 4 sections, stretching 13.1 meters (43 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 3,150 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 culvert at 7/9. The weakest component sits in good condition. All reported major components score above the Poor range.
How US281 compares
Age against the county: built in 1962, earlier than 137 of Howard's 161 bridges with a recorded construction year (85%), against a county median build year of 1976. 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).
US281 vs every rated Nebraska bridge
Inventory load rating (metric tons), FHWA NBI, this state
22 Top 77% higher than 23% 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.
Howard inventory by recorded NBI category
Exclusive Good/Fair/Poor bands across all 161 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
- 1962
- Last Reconstructed
- 1974
- Material
- Concrete
- Number of Spans
- 4
- Structure Length
- 13.1 m (43 ft) 0
- Owner
- State Highway Agency
- Avg Daily Traffic
- 3,150 vehicles/day
- Structure Number
- S281 09391
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 US281 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 US281 against other structures in Howard 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 US281?
US281 in Howard, Nebraska on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.
How often is US281 inspected?
US281'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 3,150 vehicles per day.
What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?
FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. US281 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 US281?
US281 has an NBI inventory load rating of 22.0 metric tons.
Who is responsible for maintaining US281?
US281 is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.
How old is US281 and does age affect safety?
US281 was built in 1962, making it 64 years old and last reconstructed in 1974.
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.