FHWA NBI 2024 Inspection record Public-domain dataset

245 ST

Carrying 245 ST over FIRESTEEL CK

5.3E 8N PLANKINTON, Aurora, South Dakota

Inventory: FHWA NBI 2024 · last ETL August 2026

FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.

Poor
12 t Inventory load rating Lower than 93% of rated South Dakota bridges

245 ST in Aurora, South Dakota sits above 7% of rated South Dakota bridges on inventory load rating (12 t), while its 1940 build year is earlier than 75% of Aurora's recorded-year cohort (61 bridges).

245 ST in Aurora, South Dakota is rated Poor in the FHWA's 2024 National Bridge Inventory. Built in 1940, it carries 3 rated components on the inspecting agency's 0-9 scale, and its weakest reported component scores 3. 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 SD:000000002213070

PRE-1950 · STEEL · MULTI-SPAN · SUB-LED · TRACE-ADT · LIGHT-LOAD · CAT-POOR

  • PRE-1950 Pre-1950
  • STEEL Steel
  • MULTI-SPAN 2 spans
  • SUB-LED Substructure-led
  • TRACE-ADT Trace ADT
  • LIGHT-LOAD Light 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: 245 ST

The 245 ST bridge in Aurora, South Dakota carries 245 ST over FIRESTEEL CK. It was built in 1940, making it 86 years old today. It was last reconstructed in 1960, extending its service life. The structure is built primarily of steel continuous and spans 2 sections, stretching 11.6 meters (38 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 33 vehicles, placing it in the lower-traffic tier of South Dakota bridges. It is owned and maintained by County Highway Agency.

The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 5/9, superstructure at 6/9, substructure at 3/9. The weakest component sits in poor condition. A component scored 4 or below, placing this bridge in the federal Poor condition category rather than declaring it unsafe or closed.

How 245 ST compares

▼ 20.3
Load rating vs South Dakota average (32.5 t; 5,886 of 5,887 rated)
61
Bridges in Aurora · 9 in Poor condition

Age against the county: built in 1940, earlier than 46 of Aurora's 61 bridges with a recorded construction year (75%), against a county median build year of 1965. Age is not a defect on its own, but it is the population from which future Poor ratings are drawn.

245 ST 12.2 t
South Dakota average (5,886 of 5,887 rated) 32.5 t

Live comparison across South Dakota bridges with a recorded inventory load rating (5,886 of 5,887 rated).

245 ST vs every rated South Dakota bridge

Inventory load rating (metric tons), FHWA NBI, this state

12 Top 93% higher than 7% of 5,886 bridges

rated South Dakota 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

Deck
5/9
Fair (5–6)
Superstructure
6/9
Fair (5–6)
Substructure
3/9
Poor (1–4)
Inventory Load Rating
12.2 t
NBI inventory level (metric tons)
Overall Condition
Poor

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.

Aurora inventory by recorded NBI category

Exclusive Good/Fair/Poor bands across all 61 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
1940
Last Reconstructed
1960
Material
Steel Continuous
Number of Spans
2
Structure Length
11.6 m (38 ft)
Deck Width
5.5 m (18 ft)
Owner
County Highway Agency
Avg Daily Traffic
33 vehicles/day
Structure Number
000000002213070

Condition Analysis

  • At 5/9, the deck (driving surface) shows fair condition, with minor wear flagged for upkeep.
  • The superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) is in fair condition (6/9), with minor deterioration that may require routine maintenance.
  • At 3/9, the substructure (piers and abutments) is in poor shape, with advanced wear on file for this vintage.

How to read this record

245 ST 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 245 ST against other structures in Aurora and across South Dakota. South Dakota 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 245 ST?

245 ST in Aurora, South Dakota has a deck rating of 5/9, superstructure rating of 6/9, and substructure rating of 3/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.

How often is 245 ST inspected?

245 ST'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 33 vehicles per day.

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

FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. 245 ST 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 245 ST?

245 ST has an NBI inventory load rating of 12.2 metric tons.

Who is responsible for maintaining 245 ST?

245 ST is owned and maintained by County Highway Agency.

How old is 245 ST and does age affect safety?

245 ST was built in 1940, making it 86 years old and last reconstructed in 1960.

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

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Send this source-bounded record or download its data card. An NBI condition category is not a closure or live crossing-safety verdict.

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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.