Total bridges
131
Public highway bridges in Columbia County
County profile · official public datasets
Columbia County, AR
131 public highway bridges tracked in the FHWA National Bridge Inventory: 54.2% rated Good, 43.5% Fair, 2.3% Poor.
- 131
- Public bridges
- 54.2%
- Good condition
- 2.3%
- Poor condition
The verdict
According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory.
Columbia County posts a top-quartile lowest Poor-condition share among rated counties in the state across mid-size county bridge inventory.
- Top 17%
- lowest Poor share in state
- 2.3%
- Poor-condition share
- 131
- public highway bridges
- 1983
- avg year built
Poor is an FHWA condition category from the lowest applicable component rating (4 or below), not a live crossing-safety or closure decision. Rankings cover counties with at least five public highway bridges.
Columbia County Bridge Snapshot
According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory, Columbia County ranks #13 of 75 Arkansas counties with at least 5 public highway bridges on Poor-condition share (lower share ranks better; currently 2.3%). Columbia County, Arkansas contains 131 public highway bridges. Roughly 54.2% are rated “Good,” 43.5% “Fair,” and 2.3% “Poor.” Poor means the lowest applicable deck, superstructure, substructure, or culvert rating is 4 or below on the 0–9 NBI scale. It is a condition category, not a live safety or closure decision.
Responsible agencies inspect covered bridges on risk-based intervals under current NBIS rules and submit inventory data to FHWA annually. The list below shows every NBI-tracked bridge in the county. Use the “Sort by” controls to change the ordering, and click any row for its reported inspection date, traffic count, and condition fields.
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See methodology for full definitions.
Good condition
54.2%
71 of 131 rated 7-9
Fair condition
43.5%
57 of 131 rated 5-6
Poor condition
2.3%
3 of 131 rated 4 or below
In-state Poor-share rank
#13 of 75
Among Arkansas counties with 5+ bridges, lower share ranks better
Condition distribution
Share of 131 NBI-tracked bridges by lowest applicable component rating.
Good 54.2% (71)
Fair 43.5% (57)
Poor 2.3% (3)
Columbia County's Poor-condition bridges carry 2,320 vehicle crossings a day
That is 1.2% of the county's reported daily bridge traffic on 2.3% of its bridges: Poor-condition structures carry less traffic than their share of the inventory. Each Poor bridge averages 773 crossings a day against 1,282 for a Good-condition one. A Poor rating is a condition category, not a closure or a live safety judgement; it means the lowest applicable component rating is 4 or below.
Computed over the 131 of 131 bridges in this county that report an average daily traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
39.7% of Columbia County's bridges have passed the 50-year mark
52 of the 131 bridges with a recorded construction year were built in 1974 or earlier. Age alone is not a defect: a well-maintained older bridge can rate Good, and 54.2% of this county's inventory does. Even so, this older cohort is the population from which future Poor ratings are drawn, which is why the age profile below matters alongside the condition split above.
Cutoff derives from the 2024 release year minus a 50-year design life. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
One structure carries 47.4% of the county's Poor-condition bridge traffic
SH 98 S-1 LM 5.21 over BIG CREEK, built 1936, carries 1,100 vehicles a day, the most of any Poor-rated structure here. The county's Poor-condition exposure is concentrated rather than evenly spread, so the 3-bridge count understates how much of the daily burden sits on a single crossing.
Share is of the 2,320 daily crossings on Poor-rated bridges that report a traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
When Columbia County's bridges were built
131 bridges with a recorded construction year, grouped by decade
- 1920s 3
1920–1929
3 bridges
- 1930s
1930–1939
13 bridges
- 1940s 2
1940–1949
2 bridges
- 1950s
1950–1959
18 bridges
- 1960s 10
1960–1969
10 bridges
- 1970s 8
1970–1979
8 bridges
- 1980s 9
1980–1989
9 bridges
- 1990s
1990–1999
15 bridges
- 2000s
2000–2009
30 bridges
- 2010s 11
2010–2019
11 bridges
- 2020s
2020–2029
12 bridges
What this shows Construction peaked in the 2000s, when 30 of the county's bridges still in the inventory were built, which is 22.9% of those with a recorded year. That cohort is now 15 to 24 years old in the 2024 inventory. Its average build year (1983) matches the Arkansas average (1980).
How Columbia County compares with Arkansas's closest counties by inventory size
The 5 Arkansas counties nearest Columbia County in number of bridges, with their condition splits. Its 2.3% Poor share is the 2nd-lowest of these 6. Its average build year of 1983 against a peer-group mean of 1977 is 6 years newer.
Showing the 5 closest of 74 Arkansas counties eligible for comparison.
| County | Bridges | Good | Fair | Poor | Avg. built |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson County | 136 | 49.3% | 42.6% | 8.1% | 1977 |
| Nevada County | 133 | 38.3% | 57.1% | 4.5% | 1974 |
| Columbia County (this page) | 131 | 54.2% | 43.5% | 2.3% | 1983 |
| Cross County | 129 | 38% | 50.4% | 11.6% | 1979 |
| Lawrence County | 126 | 55.6% | 35.7% | 8.7% | 1979 |
| Conway County | 122 | 53.3% | 46.7% | 0% | 1974 |
Each share is of that county's own total tracked bridges; peers are the counties with 5 or more bridges whose inventory size is closest to Columbia County's. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
Nationwide counties with similar inventory size or average build year
Two NBI-derived peer sets for Columbia County, both outside Arkansas so the neighborhoods are not the same-state size table above.
Similar inventory size
Nearest county inventories outside AR (131 bridges here).
- Laurel County, KY · 131 bridges
- Franklin County, LA · 131 bridges
- Wright County, MO · 131 bridges
- Lincoln County, NM · 131 bridges
Similar average build year
Nearest mean year-built outside AR (1983 here).
- Dallas County, TX · avg 1983 · 3,230 bridges
- Bexar County, TX · avg 1983 · 2,342 bridges
- Sedgwick County, KS · avg 1983 · 1,333 bridges
- Will County, IL · avg 1983 · 649 bridges
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release. Peers floor at 10 bridges so stub inventories cannot own the match.
Fair-condition bridges (57)
Col. CR 24 Z- F
FairOver: CREEK
1.02 MI N JCT SH 160, Columbia, AR
Built 2002 Load: 4.5 t ADT: 122
SH 57 S-2 LM 4.38
FairOver: BIRCHFIELD CREEK
4.39 MI SE OUACHITA CO LI, Columbia, AR
Built 1954 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 410
CR 52 ZONE E
FairOver: LAKE COLUMBIA
1.7 MI W JCT SH 344, Columbia, AR
Built 2004 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 255
N.Jackson St
FairOver: CREEK
.90 MI SO JCT US 82, Columbia, AR
Built 1991 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 4,903
US 79 SEC2 LM3.65
FairOver: SL SW RR
2.0 MI SW OF SH 98, Columbia, AR
Built 1936 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 3,636
US 79 S-1 LM 2.73
FairOver: DRAINAGE DITCH
2.5 MI S EMERSON, Columbia, AR
Built 1946 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 1,700
US 79 S-1 LM 8.24
FairOver: KINGS CREEK RELIEF
2.0 MI N OF EMERSON, Columbia, AR
Built 1930 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 2,700
US79 S-1 LM 11.44
FairOver: HORSEHEAD RELIEF
6.0 MI S OF MAGNOLIA, Columbia, AR
Built 1928 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 2,700
US79 S-1 LM 11.63
FairOver: HORSEHEAD RELIEF
5.5 MI S OF MAGNOLIA, Columbia, AR
Built 1928 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 2,700
US79 S-1 LM 12.32
FairOver: LAWRENCE BAYOU
4.75 MI S OF MAGNOLIA, Columbia, AR
Built 1930 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 4,500
US 79B S-1B LM1.19
FairOver: BRANCH
0.25 MI N Jct 79B & 19, Columbia, AR
Built 1930 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 2,500
US 82 S-4 LM 12.33
FairOver: VILLAGE CREEK
0.5 MI E OF VILLAGE, Columbia, AR
Built 1930 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 3,700
US 82 S-4 LM 14.51
FairOver: HURRICANE CREEK
2.5 MI E OF VILLAGE, Columbia, AR
Built 1930 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 3,700
US 371 S-6 LM 8.83
FairOver: CREEK
1.25 MI S OF WALDO, Columbia, AR
Built 1992 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 3,900
CityS. CALHOUN RD.
FairOver: NATIONS CREEK
0.1MI E JCT SH 79, Columbia, AR
Built 1955 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 853
SH 355 LM4.20 S-7
FairOver: BEECH CREEK
1.2 MI NW OF JCT US 371, Columbia, AR
Built 1963 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 530
CR 16 ZONE A
FairOver: LITTLE CORNIE CREEK
3.75 MI S JCT SH 98, Columbia, AR
Built 2006 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 206
Col. CR 60 Z:D
FairOver: creek
.1 mi. E CR 45, Columbia, AR
Built 2009 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 180
S.CalhounRd. Z-D
FairOver: Branch
.2 mi N. Jct Emerson St., Columbia, AR
Built 2013 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 85
US 79 S-1 LM 11.57
FairOver: HORSEHEAD CREEK
11.57 MI NO LOUISIANA ST., Columbia, AR
Built 1956 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 2,700
SH 98 S-2 LM-2.47
FairOver: CREEK
2.53 MI E JCT US 79 & 98, Columbia, AR
Built 1965 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 320
US 82 S-4 LM 9.43
FairOver: BIG CORNIE CREEK
2.20 MI W JCT OF SH 98, Columbia, AR
Built 1950 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 3,700
SH 160 S-4 LM 6.42
FairOver: DORCHEAT BAYOU
6.47 MI E OF TAYLOR, Columbia, AR
Built 1962 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 420
SH 160 S4 LM 6.72
FairOver: DORCHEAT BAYOU RELIEF
6.78 MI E OF TAYLOR, Columbia, AR
Built 1962 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 420
Col.CORd42 Z-B
FairOver: Hurricane Creek
2.6 mi.SW jct.US82&CR42, Columbia, AR
Built 2005 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 25
US 79 S-1 LM 11.73
FairOver: HORSEHEAD CREEK RELIEF
11.73 MI NO LOUISIANA ST., Columbia, AR
Built 1956 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 2,700
SH 19 S-1 LM 11.47
FairOver: CREEK
11.35 MI N OF LA. LINE, Columbia, AR
Built 1950 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 2,000
US 82 S-4 LM 10.36
FairOver: HARPER CREEK
1.25 MI W JCT OF SH 98, Columbia, AR
Built 1950 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 3,700
Col. CR 5 Z-H
FairOver: HURRICANE CREEK
1.5 MI N JCT 5 & HWY 98, Columbia, AR
Built 1977 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 684
Columbia CR 31 Z-D
FairOver: Creek
3.70 miles north of US 82, Columbia, AR
Built 2017 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 523
US 79 S-1 LM10.16
FairOver: DRY CREEK
4.25 MI NO OF BRISTER, Columbia, AR
Built 1956 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 2,700
SH 57 S-2 LM 2.61
FairOver: SLOAN CREEK
2.61 MI SE OUACHITA CO LI, Columbia, AR
Built 1954 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 410
US 79 S-1 LM 16.17
FairOver: NATIONS CREEK
0.5 MI NO OF WALKER ARK, Columbia, AR
Built 1956 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 5,100
SH 160 S4 LM 4.53
FairOver: CROOKED CREEK
4.53 MI E OF TAYLOR, Columbia, AR
Built 1965 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 520
US 79 S-2 LM 8.72
FairOver: SMACKOVER CREEK
8.73 MI NO JCT US 82, Columbia, AR
Built 1947 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 2,600
US 79 S-1 LM 9.27
FairOver: DUFFNCREEKITCH
1.5 MI N OF BRISTER, Columbia, AR
Built 1930 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 2,700
US 82 S-4 LM 4.87
FairOver: DITCHHEAD CREEK
2.5 MI E OF MAGNOLIA, Columbia, AR
Built 1931 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 3,700
US 79 S-1 LM 2.43
FairOver: CYPRESS CREEK
3.0 MI S EMERSON, Columbia, AR
Built 1937 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 1,700
Col.CR 15 Z-F
FairOver: DORCHEAT BAYOU
2 MI NE JCT CO RD 15&2, Columbia, AR
Built 1981 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 1,661
Col. CR 15 Z-G
FairOver: Crooked Creek
1.4 mi W jct. 1 & 15, Columbia, AR
Built 2003 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 219
SH 98 S-1 LM 3.71
FairOver: KENDRICK CREEK
4.30 MI W JCT OF US 79, Columbia, AR
Built 1936 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 1,100
CR 42 ZONE B
FairOver: VILLAGE CREEK
0.3 MI E JCT SH 98, Columbia, AR
Built 2004 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 10
CR 441 ZONE C
FairOver: Birchfield Creek
0.9 MI S JCT CR 63, Columbia, AR
Built 2004 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 94
Col.CO RD 61 Z-C
FairOver: NATIONS CREEK
.8 MI E JCT 79&61, Columbia, AR
Built 1986 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 3,481
Col. CR 15 Z-G
FairOver: DORCHEAT BAYOU RELIEF
1.5 MI E OF JCT 15 & 1, Columbia, AR
Built 1983 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,661
Col CoRD 21 ZONE G
FairOver: CROOKED CREEK
0.5 MI W OF JCT 21 & 278, Columbia, AR
Built 1993 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 205
US 82 S-3 LM 5.00
FairOver: BEECH CREEK
4 MI W OF MAGNOLIA, Columbia, AR
Built 1969 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 4,508
US 371 LM16.54 S-7
FairOver: CROOKED CREEK
1.5 MI N BUSSEY, Columbia, AR
Built 1972 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,900
US 371 S-7 LM 3.79
FairOver: BIG CREEK
1.8 MI W JCT SH 19, Columbia, AR
Built 1978 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 3,900
US 371 S-6 LM 11.1
FairOver: BARLOW BRANCH
1.0 W OF MAGNOLIA, Columbia, AR
Built 1993 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 3,900
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Related
Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainBridges
Every figure on PlainBridges 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. NBI condition categories reflect the latest reported inventory record, not a live safety, closure, or travel decision.