I26 LT LN
Carrying I26 LT LN over N INDIAN CR & NFA A309
1.4 M S OF SR 173 JCT, Unicoi, Tennessee
Inventory: FHWA NBI 2024 · last ETL August 2026
FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.
I26 LT LN in Unicoi, Tennessee sits above 94% of rated Tennessee bridges on inventory load rating (33 t), while its 1985 build year is earlier than 46% of Unicoi's recorded-year cohort (161 bridges).
I26 LT LN in Unicoi, Tennessee is rated Good in the FHWA's 2024 National Bridge Inventory. Built in 1985, 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 TN:86I00260014
LATE-CENTURY · PRESTRESS · LONG-SPAN-RUN · TIED-CTRL · HEAVY-ADT · STANDARD-LOAD · CAT-GOOD
- LATE-CENTURY 1980–1999
- PRESTRESS Prestressed concrete
- LONG-SPAN-RUN 4 spans
- TIED-CTRL Tied control
- HEAVY-ADT Heavy 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: I26 LT LN
The I26 LT LN bridge in Unicoi, Tennessee carries I26 LT LN over N INDIAN CR & NFA A309. It was built in 1985, making it 41 years old today. The structure is built primarily of prestressed concrete and spans 4 sections, stretching 66.3 meters (218 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 15,924 vehicles, placing it in the heavily-trafficked tier of Tennessee 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 7/9. The weakest component sits in good condition. No reported major component scores in the Poor range under the current federal condition thresholds.
How I26 LT LN compares
Age against the county: built in 1985, earlier than 74 of Unicoi's 161 bridges with a recorded construction year (46%), against a county median build year of 1985.
Live comparison across Tennessee bridges with a recorded inventory load rating (20,355 of 20,379 rated).
I26 LT LN vs every rated Tennessee bridge
Inventory load rating (metric tons), FHWA NBI, this state
33 Top 6% higher than 94% of 20,355 bridges
rated Tennessee 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.
Unicoi 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
- 1985
- Material
- Prestressed Concrete
- Number of Spans
- 4
- Structure Length
- 66.3 m (218 ft)
- Deck Width
- 13.4 m (44 ft)
- Owner
- State Highway Agency
- Avg Daily Traffic
- 15,924 vehicles/day
- Structure Number
- 86I00260014
Condition Analysis
- • The deck (driving surface) rates good at 7/9, with no significant deterioration on file.
- • At 7/9, the superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) is in good shape and shows no significant wear.
- • 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 I26 LT LN 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 I26 LT LN against other structures in Unicoi and across Tennessee. Tennessee 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 I26 LT LN?
I26 LT LN in Unicoi, Tennessee has a deck rating of 7/9, superstructure rating of 7/9, and substructure rating of 7/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.
How often is I26 LT LN inspected?
I26 LT LN'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 15,924 vehicles per day.
What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?
FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. I26 LT LN 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 I26 LT LN?
I26 LT LN has an NBI inventory load rating of 32.7 metric tons.
Who is responsible for maintaining I26 LT LN?
I26 LT LN is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.
How old is I26 LT LN and does age affect safety?
I26 LT LN was built in 1985, making it 41 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.