Total bridges
174
Public highway bridges in Hempstead County
County profile · official public datasets
Hempstead County, AR
174 public highway bridges tracked in the FHWA National Bridge Inventory: 42% rated Good, 54.6% Fair, 3.4% Poor.
- 174
- Public bridges
- 42%
- Good condition
- 3.4%
- Poor condition
The verdict
According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory.
Hempstead County posts a better-than-median Poor-condition share among rated counties in the state across mid-size county bridge inventory.
- Top 36%
- lowest Poor share in state
- 3.4%
- Poor-condition share
- 174
- public highway bridges
- 1977
- 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.
Hempstead County Bridge Snapshot
According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory, Hempstead County ranks #27 of 75 Arkansas counties with at least 5 public highway bridges on Poor-condition share (lower share ranks better; currently 3.4%). Hempstead County, Arkansas contains 174 public highway bridges. Roughly 42% are rated “Good,” 54.6% “Fair,” and 3.4% “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
42%
73 of 174 rated 7-9
Fair condition
54.6%
95 of 174 rated 5-6
Poor condition
3.4%
6 of 174 rated 4 or below
In-state Poor-share rank
#27 of 75
Among Arkansas counties with 5+ bridges, lower share ranks better
Condition distribution
Share of 174 NBI-tracked bridges by lowest applicable component rating.
Good 42% (73)
Fair 54.6% (95)
Poor 3.4% (6)
Hempstead County's Poor-condition bridges carry 1,881 vehicle crossings a day
That is 0.2% of the county's reported daily bridge traffic on 3.4% of its bridges: Poor-condition structures carry less traffic than their share of the inventory. Each Poor bridge averages 314 crossings a day against 2,322 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 174 of 174 bridges in this county that report an average daily traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
54.6% of Hempstead County's bridges have passed the 50-year mark
95 of the 174 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 42% 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 41.5% of the county's Poor-condition bridge traffic
SH 32 - 07- 6.82 over BODCAW REL., built 1963, carries 780 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 6-bridge count understates how much of the daily burden sits on a single crossing.
Share is of the 1,881 daily crossings on Poor-rated bridges that report a traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
When Hempstead County's bridges were built
174 bridges with a recorded construction year, grouped by decade
- 1930s 15
1930–1939
15 bridges
- 1940s 2
1940–1949
2 bridges
- 1950s 10
1950–1959
10 bridges
- 1960s
1960–1969
54 bridges
- 1970s 20
1970–1979
20 bridges
- 1980s 16
1980–1989
16 bridges
- 1990s
1990–1999
28 bridges
- 2000s 12
2000–2009
12 bridges
- 2010s 14
2010–2019
14 bridges
- 2020s 3
2020–2029
3 bridges
What this shows Construction peaked in the 1960s, when 54 of the county's bridges still in the inventory were built, which is 31% of those with a recorded year. That cohort is now 55 to 64 years old in the 2024 inventory. Its average build year (1977) matches the Arkansas average (1980).
How Hempstead County compares with Arkansas's closest counties by inventory size
The 5 Arkansas counties nearest Hempstead County in number of bridges, with their condition splits. Its 3.4% Poor share is the 2nd-lowest of these 6. Its average build year of 1977 against a peer-group mean of 1976 is in line with the group.
Showing the 5 closest of 74 Arkansas counties eligible for comparison.
| County | Bridges | Good | Fair | Poor | Avg. built |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lonoke County | 187 | 55.6% | 39.6% | 4.8% | 1981 |
| Independence County | 184 | 39.1% | 52.2% | 8.7% | 1975 |
| Hempstead County (this page) | 174 | 42% | 54.6% | 3.4% | 1977 |
| Sevier County | 164 | 55.5% | 37.8% | 6.7% | 1977 |
| Johnson County | 162 | 46.3% | 51.9% | 1.9% | 1972 |
| Ouachita County | 162 | 34.6% | 59.3% | 6.2% | 1973 |
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 Hempstead 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 Hempstead County, both outside Arkansas so the neighborhoods are not the same-state size table above.
Similar inventory size
Nearest county inventories outside AR (174 bridges here).
- Eagle County, CO · 174 bridges
- Washington County, IN · 174 bridges
- Lac qui Parle County, MN · 174 bridges
- Sussex County, NJ · 174 bridges
Similar average build year
Nearest mean year-built outside AR (1977 here).
- San Diego County, CA · avg 1977 · 1,632 bridges
- King County, WA · avg 1977 · 1,238 bridges
- Riverside County, CA · avg 1977 · 1,117 bridges
- Shelby County, TN · avg 1977 · 1,077 bridges
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release. Peers floor at 10 bridges so stub inventories cannot own the match.
Fair-condition bridges (95)
C.R. 19 - E - 1.53
FairOver: NFK TERRE ROUGE CREEK
1.5 M W JCT SH 29, Hempstead, AR
Built 1995 Load: 1.8 t ADT: 104
C. R. 55 -B-1.42
FairOver: LITTLE TERRE ROUGE CK
2 MI N EMMET, Hempstead, AR
Built 1984 Load: 2.7 t ADT: 40
CO RD 39-C- 1.25
FairOver: OZAN CREEK
1.25 N JCT SH 29, Hempstead, AR
Built 1986 Load: 3.6 t ADT: 75
C.R. 155 - F-1.61
FairOver: BOIS DARC CREEK
1.6 MI W JCT CR 7 & 105, Hempstead, AR
Built 1991 Load: 5.4 t ADT: 37
C.R. 49 - E- 3.32
FairOver: BRIDGE CREEK
3.2 E JCT S H 195, Hempstead, AR
Built 1994 Load: 5.4 t ADT: 11
C.R. 42- C - 0.64
FairOver: MID FK OZAN CR
0.64 MN JCT CO RD 22, Hempstead, AR
Built 1984 Load: 11.8 t ADT: 23
CO RD 185 -E- 2.60
FairOver: BLACK BOIS DARC CREEK
2.25 MI SW WASHINGTON, Hempstead, AR
Built 1988 Load: 11.8 t ADT: 409
C.R. 333 - C- 4.44
FairOver: BRNH OF N FORK OZAN CR
0.5 SW JCT CO RD 40, Hempstead, AR
Built 1981 Load: 15.4 t ADT: 157
C.R.51 ZONE C-0.54
FairOver: OZAN CREEK
0.54 MI. SE. JCT. S.H.195, Hempstead, AR
Built 2001 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 14
C.R. 2 ZONE E-3.85
FairOver: FLAT CREEK
1.5 M S W GURNSEY, Hempstead, AR
Built 1939 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 660
SH 27-3-3.56
FairOver: HOLT CREEK
3.56 M NE OF HOWARD COL, Hempstead, AR
Built 1932 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 3,200
I 30 W.B.L - 27.97
FairOver: CREEK
2.02 MI. S.W. OF S.H. 278, Hempstead, AR
Built 1967 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 15,000
I-30 E.B.L -27.94
FairOver: CREEK
2.0 MI SW JCT SH 278 & 30, Hempstead, AR
Built 1967 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 30,000
C.R. 333- C - 4.92
FairOver: NORTH FORK OZAN CR
4.5 MI SW MCCASKILL, Hempstead, AR
Built 1984 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 157
US 278 - 05 -17.92
FairOver: TOWN CREEK
1.25 M S OF WASHINGTON CL, Hempstead, AR
Built 1950 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 2,700
SH 195 -01-11.78
FairOver: BLACK BOIS DE ARC CREEK
2.1 MI SW SH 4, Hempstead, AR
Built 1967 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 290
US 278 - 06 - 3.54
FairOver: BODCAU CREEK
3.5 MI E OF HOPE, Hempstead, AR
Built 1974 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 1,764
FRANKLIN ST.
FairOver: TOWN CREEK (CITY)
0.48 MI E JCT U.S. 278, Hempstead, AR
Built 1994 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 320
US278 /5 /22.22
FairOver: CANEY CREEK
.2 MI SO JCT SH 73, Hempstead, AR
Built 1950 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 4,700
SH 195 - 01- 3.22
FairOver: TURKEY CREEK
3.3 MI N.E. OF FULTON, Hempstead, AR
Built 1967 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 330
SH 195 - 01 - 6.43
FairOver: SANDY BOIS DE ARC CREEK
6.45 MI N.E. OF FULTON, Hempstead, AR
Built 1967 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 330
SH 332- 06 - 2.15
FairOver: BRANCH
2.2 MI E JCT SH 29 & 332, Hempstead, AR
Built 1959 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 320
SH 32 - 06 - 2.92
FairOver: CANEY CREEK
1.5 MI W JCT SH 29 & 32, Hempstead, AR
Built 1974 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 3,800
SH 195 - 05- 0.42
FairOver: BLUE CREEK
0.42 MI. N OF U.S.371, Hempstead, AR
Built 1975 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 390
SH 195 - 01- 9.87
FairOver: DITCH
4.0 MI SW WASHINGTON, Hempstead, AR
Built 1972 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 290
US 371- 03- 18.94
FairOver: HOWARD BRANCH
1.3 M E OF SH 29, Hempstead, AR
Built 1954 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 1,500
US 67-SEC.02-11.78
FairOver: CREEK
1.2 MI W JCT SH 174 & 67, Hempstead, AR
Built 1930 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 3,500
I-30 SEC. 12-36.09
FairOver: GARLAND CREEK
0.2 MI. W JCT SH 299 & 30, Hempstead, AR
Built 1968 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 30,000
SH 29 - 04- 13.99
FairOver: MARLBROOK CR
1.50 MI S JCT US 371, Hempstead, AR
Built 1956 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 1,001
US 371 - 03 - 4.59
FairOver: BRUSHY CREEK
4.59 MI E HOWARD CO LN, Hempstead, AR
Built 1956 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 1,699
I 30 FRONTAGE RD
FairOver: BRIDGE CREEK RELIEF
3.5 MI NE MILLER CO L, Hempstead, AR
Built 1967 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 28
SH 32 - 07 - 6.99
FairOver: BODCAW CREEK
7.0 MI SE JCT SH 4 & 32, Hempstead, AR
Built 1963 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 780
I 30 E&W B.-37.11
FairOver: CREEK
0.8 MI NE SH 299, Hempstead, AR
Built 1972 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 30,000
SH 195 SEC.01-2.38
FairOver: BRIDGE CREEK
2.5 MI NE SH 355, Hempstead, AR
Built 1967 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 330
SH 332- 06 - 6.10
FairOver: VICKERS CREEK
5.0 MI E JCT SH 195 & 332, Hempstead, AR
Built 1963 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 320
SH 29 -04 -4.72
FairOver: TERRE ROUGE CREEK
2.2MI SO SH 332, Hempstead, AR
Built 1980 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 1,207
CO RD 2- E- 0.37
FairOver: I 30-SEC 12-22.24
JCT I-30 & CO.RD. 2, Hempstead, AR
Built 1967 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 660
SH 353-SEC 1- 0.28
FairOver: I 30-SEC 12 LM 25.26
0.1 MI N JCT US 67 & 353, Hempstead, AR
Built 1966 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 340
CO RD 49- E- 2.72
FairOver: I 30-SEC 12-L.M. 19.95
JCT I-30 & CO.RD 49, Hempstead, AR
Built 1967 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 48
CR 2 ZONE -E-8.65
FairOver: I-30 SEC 12 LM28.63
JCT I-30 & CO.RD.2, Hempstead, AR
Built 1967 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 610
SH 355 - 04 - 8.05
FairOver: BODCAW RELIEF
.25 MI W NEVADA CO.LINE, Hempstead, AR
Built 1970 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 280
C.R. 23 - C -9.90
FairOver: SO. FORK OZAN
4 MI SE MCCASKELL, Hempstead, AR
Built 1998 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 277
US 67-SEC.02-9.77
FairOver: BOIS DARC CREEK
7.80 MI NE OF I-30, Hempstead, AR
Built 1930 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 3,597
US 67- 02 -10.22
FairOver: CANEY CR
8.20 MI NE OF I-30, Hempstead, AR
Built 1930 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 3,597
C.R. 21 -E- 2.47
FairOver: I 30-SEC 12 LM 28.19
JCT I-30 & CO.RD. 21, Hempstead, AR
Built 1967 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 681
US 67-SEC.02-7.04
FairOver: WATER CR
5.30 MI NE OD I-30, Hempstead, AR
Built 1930 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 2,927
I 30 WB LNS-38.42
FairOver: CARUSE CREEK
8.43 MI. E.OF S.H.278 JCT, Hempstead, AR
Built 1972 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 10,500
I-30 EB LNS-38.44
FairOver: CARUSE CREEK
8.45 MI. E OF S.H.278 JCT, Hempstead, AR
Built 1972 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 10,500
SH 29 - 04 - 19.14
FairOver: TAYLOR CREEK
3.5 MI NE JCT US 371, Hempstead, AR
Built 1961 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 170
I-30-SEC.12-29.07
FairOver: CREEK
0.8 MI SW JCT SH 278 & 30, Hempstead, AR
Built 1967 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 30,000
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.