STH 98-ELM DR
Carrying STH 98-ELM DR over BEAR CREEK
0.5M E JCT CTH K TO S, Clark, Wisconsin
Inventory: FHWA NBI 2024 · last ETL August 2026
FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.
STH 98-ELM DR in Clark, Wisconsin sits above 64% of rated Wisconsin bridges on inventory load rating (37 t), while its 1920 build year is earlier than 99% of Clark's recorded-year cohort (296 bridges).
STH 98-ELM DR in Clark, Wisconsin is rated Poor in the FHWA's 2024 National Bridge Inventory. Built in 1920, 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 WI:B10005300000000
PRE-1950 · STEEL · SINGLE-SPAN · DECK-LED · ARTERIAL-ADT · STANDARD-LOAD · CAT-POOR
- PRE-1950 Pre-1950
- STEEL Steel
- SINGLE-SPAN Single span
- 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: STH 98-ELM DR
The STH 98-ELM DR bridge in Clark, Wisconsin carries STH 98-ELM DR over BEAR CREEK. It was built in 1920, making it 106 years old today. It was last reconstructed in 1935, extending its service life. The structure is built primarily of steel and spans 1 section, stretching 12.4 meters (41 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 3,300 vehicles, placing it in the moderately-trafficked tier of Wisconsin bridges. It is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.
The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 4/9, superstructure at 6/9, substructure at 5/9. 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 STH 98-ELM DR compares
Age against the county: built in 1920, earlier than 293 of Clark's 296 bridges with a recorded construction year (99%), against a county median build year of 1987. Age is not a defect on its own, but it is the population from which future Poor ratings are drawn.
Live comparison across Wisconsin bridges with a recorded inventory load rating (14,446 rated).
STH 98-ELM DR vs every rated Wisconsin bridge
Inventory load rating (metric tons), FHWA NBI, this state
37 Top 36% higher than 64% of 14,446 bridges
rated Wisconsin 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.
Clark inventory by recorded NBI category
Exclusive Good/Fair/Poor bands across all 296 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
- 1920
- Last Reconstructed
- 1935
- Material
- Steel
- Number of Spans
- 1
- Structure Length
- 12.4 m (41 ft)
- Deck Width
- 12.4 m (41 ft)
- Owner
- State Highway Agency
- Avg Daily Traffic
- 3,300 vehicles/day
- Structure Number
- B10005300000000
Condition Analysis
- • The deck (driving surface) rates poor at 4/9, with advanced deterioration recorded on the latest inspection.
- • The superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) rates fair at 6/9, minor deterioration that routine maintenance should address.
- • At 5/9, the substructure (piers and abutments) shows fair condition, with minor wear flagged for upkeep.
Location
Data Source
FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI).
FHWA NBI Program ↗How to read this record
STH 98-ELM DR 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 STH 98-ELM DR against other structures in Clark and across Wisconsin. Wisconsin 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 STH 98-ELM DR?
STH 98-ELM DR in Clark, Wisconsin has a deck rating of 4/9, superstructure rating of 6/9, and substructure rating of 5/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.
How often is STH 98-ELM DR inspected?
STH 98-ELM DR'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 3,300 vehicles per day.
What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?
FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. STH 98-ELM DR 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 STH 98-ELM DR?
STH 98-ELM DR has an NBI inventory load rating of 37.3 metric tons.
Who is responsible for maintaining STH 98-ELM DR?
STH 98-ELM DR is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.
How old is STH 98-ELM DR and does age affect safety?
STH 98-ELM DR was built in 1920, making it 106 years old and last reconstructed in 1935.
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.