FHWA NBI 2024 Inspection record Public-domain dataset

US 550 SBND ML

Carrying US 550 SBND ML over DRAW

2 MI NORTH OF NEW MEXICO, La Plata, Colorado

Data updated May 2026

FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.

Fair
41 t Inventory load rating

Bridge Snapshot: US 550 SBND ML

The US 550 SBND ML bridge in La Plata, Colorado carries US 550 SBND ML over DRAW. It was built in 1999, making it 27 years old today. The structure is built primarily of prestressed concrete and spans 1 section, stretching 45.8 meters (150 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 4,050 vehicles, placing it in the moderately-trafficked tier of Colorado bridges. It is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.

The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 7/9, superstructure at 7/9, substructure at 6/9. The weakest component sits in fair condition. No reported major component scores in the Poor range under the current federal condition thresholds. Its NBI inventory load rating is 40.8 metric tons.

Sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for refresh cadence and NBI release vintage.

How US 550 SBND ML compares

▲ 3.7
Load rating vs Colorado average (37.1 t)
Top 25%
Higher load rating than 75% of Colorado bridges
102
Bridges in La Plata · 2 in Poor condition
US 550 SBND ML 40.8 t
Colorado average 37.1 t

Live comparison across Colorado.

Historical Sufficiency Rating

PlainBridge-computed
99.8 / 100 - historical 80–100 band
Structural adequacy /55
55.0
Serviceability /30
30.0
Essentiality /15
14.8
Special reductions
0

FHWA discontinued this calculated item; it does not determine current condition, funding eligibility, posting, or closure. How the historical reference is calculated.

Condition Ratings

Deck
7/9
Good (7–9)
Superstructure
7/9
Good (7–9)
Substructure
6/9
Fair (5–6)
Inventory Load Rating
40.8 t
NBI inventory level (metric tons)
Overall Condition
Fair

Full 0–9 scale + sufficiency-rating breakdown: how condition ratings work.

Structural Details

Year Built
1999
Material
Prestressed Concrete
Number of Spans
1
Structure Length
45.8 m (150 ft)
Deck Width
14.1 m (46 ft)
Owner
State Highway Agency
Avg Daily Traffic
4,050 vehicles/day
Structure Number
P-05-I

Condition Analysis

  • At 7/9, the deck (driving surface) is in good shape and shows no significant wear.
  • At 7/9, the superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) is in good shape and shows no significant wear.
  • The substructure (piers and abutments) rates fair at 6/9, minor deterioration that routine maintenance should address.

How to read this record

This page shows what the last federal inspection recorded, not whether US 550 SBND ML 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 US 550 SBND ML against other structures in La Plata and across Colorado. Colorado 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 US 550 SBND ML?

US 550 SBND ML in La Plata, Colorado has a deck rating of 7/9, superstructure rating of 7/9, and substructure rating of 6/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.

How often is US 550 SBND ML inspected?

US 550 SBND ML'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 4,050 vehicles per day.

What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?

FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. US 550 SBND ML 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 US 550 SBND ML?

US 550 SBND ML has an NBI inventory load rating of 40.8 metric tons.

Who is responsible for maintaining US 550 SBND ML?

US 550 SBND ML is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.

How old is US 550 SBND ML and does age affect safety?

US 550 SBND ML was built in 1999, making it 27 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.

Data sourced from the Federal Highway Administration National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainBridges

Every figure on PlainBridge is rendered directly from federal source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.