County profile · official public datasets

Union County, AR

289 public highway bridges tracked in the FHWA National Bridge Inventory: 73% rated Good, 26% Fair, 1% Poor.

289
Public bridges
73%
Good condition
1%
Poor condition

The verdict

According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory.

Union County pairs a top-10% lowest Poor-condition share among rated counties in the state with a newer average build year than the state inventory.

Top 7%
lowest Poor share in state
1%
Poor-condition share
289
public highway bridges
1992
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.

Union County Bridge Snapshot

According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory, Union County ranks #5 of 75 Arkansas counties with at least 5 public highway bridges on Poor-condition share (lower share ranks better; currently 1%). Union County, Arkansas contains 289 public highway bridges. Roughly 73% are rated “Good,” 26% “Fair,” and 1% “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.

Total bridges

289

Public highway bridges in Union County

Good condition

73%

211 of 289 rated 7-9

Fair condition

26%

75 of 289 rated 5-6

Poor condition

1%

3 of 289 rated 4 or below

In-state Poor-share rank

#5 of 75

Among Arkansas counties with 5+ bridges, lower share ranks better

Condition distribution

Share of 289 NBI-tracked bridges by lowest applicable component rating.

Good
73% (211)
Fair
26% (75)
Poor
1% (3)

Union County's Poor-condition bridges carry 12,080 vehicle crossings a day

That is 2.2% of the county's reported daily bridge traffic on 1% of its bridges: Poor-condition structures carry more traffic than their share of the inventory. Each Poor bridge averages 4,027 crossings a day against 1,685 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 289 of 289 bridges in this county that report an average daily traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.

17.3% of Union County's bridges have passed the 50-year mark

50 of the 289 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 73% 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 91.1% of the county's Poor-condition bridge traffic

US 82B S5 LM 2.42 over UN PAC RR & Jackson St, built 1935, carries 11,000 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 12,080 daily crossings on Poor-rated bridges that report a traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.

When Union County's bridges were built

289 bridges with a recorded construction year, grouped by decade

bridges

What this shows Construction peaked in the 2000s, when 96 of the county's bridges still in the inventory were built, which is 33.2% of those with a recorded year. That cohort is now 15 to 24 years old in the 2024 inventory. Its average build year is 1992, 12 years newer than the Arkansas average of 1980.

Source FHWA National Bridge Inventory (year built) As of 2024 NBI release

How Union County compares with Arkansas's closest counties by inventory size

The 5 Arkansas counties nearest Union County in number of bridges, with their condition splits. Its 1% Poor share is the 2nd-lowest of these 6. Its average build year of 1992 against a peer-group mean of 1981 is 11 years newer.

Showing the 5 closest of 74 Arkansas counties eligible for comparison.

Bridge inventory size and condition shares for Union County and the 5 Arkansas counties closest to it in inventory size
County Bridges Poor
White County 322 5.3%
Garland County 319 0.9%
Mississippi County 309 9.4%
Union County (this page) 289 1%
Greene County 251 3.2%
Crawford County 248 7.7%

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 Union 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 Union County, both outside Arkansas so the neighborhoods are not the same-state size table above.

Similar inventory size

Nearest county inventories outside AR (289 bridges here).

Similar average build year

Nearest mean year-built outside AR (1992 here).

Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release. Peers floor at 10 bridges so stub inventories cannot own the match.

All 289 Good 211 Fair 75 Poor 3

All bridges (289)

SH 15 S-1 LM 13.67

Good

Over: BEECH CREEK

9.15 SW JCT OF US 82, Union, AR

Built 1979 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,700

SH 15 S-1 LM 14.74

Good

Over: DRY DITCH

8.10 SW JCT US 82, Union, AR

Built 1979 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,700

SH15 SEC1 LM 20.94

Good

Over: US 82-SEC 5

1.4 MI E JCT US 82 & 82B, Union, AR

Built 1979 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 7,200

PARNELL ROAD

Good

Over: US 82-SEC 5

0.5 MI W TIMBERLANE DR, Union, AR

Built 1979 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,081

US82 S-5 WB LM17.0

Good

Over: US 82-S-5BLM17.05

@ JCT US 82B (W EL DORADO, Union, AR

Built 1979 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,800

SH 7 NB S2 LM 3.20

Good

Over: GOODWIN CREEK

.3 MI N JCT SH7&355, Union, AR

Built 1984 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 9,993

SH7 S-1 LM3.05

Good

Over: BUCKALOO CREEK

3.05 MI N LA STATE LINE, Union, AR

Built 1984 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 2,445

SH 7-SEC 1 LM 5.29

Good

Over: MILL CREEK

5.3 MI N LA LINE, Union, AR

Built 1987 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 2,445

SH 7SP S-2S LM.5

Good

Over: MILL CREEK

0.5 MI N JCT 167B, Union, AR

Built 1991 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 8,100

SH7 S2 LM11.34 NB

Good

Over: SMACKOVER CR RELIEF

2.8 MI N JCT 160 & 7, Union, AR

Built 1990 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 5,679

SH 7-S 2 LM 11.70

Good

Over: SMACKOVER CREEK

1.9 MI NO JCT 160 & 7, Union, AR

Built 1990 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 5,679

US 63 S-18 LM10.78

Good

Over: MILL CREEK

0.5 MI N JCT SH 129, Union, AR

Built 1994 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 2,180

US 63 S-18 LM10.11

Good

Over: MILL CREEK

1.1 MI NORTH JCT SH 129, Union, AR

Built 1994 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,700

UnionUS167S1LM10.4

Good

Over: GUM CREEK

0.1 MI N JCT SH 7 SEC 1, Union, AR

Built 1997 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 8,629

SH 7 S-2 LM 7.54

Good

Over: HOLMES CREEK

1 MI NORTH OF SH 7, Union, AR

Built 1994 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 7,438

UnionSH160S-5LM2.8

Good

Over: BEECH CREEK

2.83 MI NE JCT SH 57, Union, AR

Built 1997 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 430

SH 7B S-7B LM1.30

Good

Over: HOLMES CREEK

1 MI SE OF SMACKOVER, Union, AR

Built 1997 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 3,100

US 167 S-1 LM 1.73

Good

Over: FAIRLY BREAK

1.73 MI N JUNCTION CITY, Union, AR

Built 1998 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 5,263

UnionSH15S-1 L2.38

Good

Over: BIG CORNIE CREEK

2.38 MI NE LA. ST. LINE, Union, AR

Built 1999 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 660

UnionSH15S-1LM2.73

Good

Over: BIG CORNIE RELIEF

2.73 MI NE LA STATE LINE, Union, AR

Built 1999 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 660

UnionSH15S-1LM5.97

Good

Over: THREE CREEKS RELIEF

5.98 MI NE LA STATE LINE, Union, AR

Built 1999 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,000

UnionSH15S-1LM6.04

Good

Over: THREE CREEK

6.05 MI NE LA STATE LINE, Union, AR

Built 1999 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,000

CORd19 Z-D LM 2.06

Good

Over: US 167-sec 1

1.34 MI N JCT US 82, Union, AR

Built 2006 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 3,800

26440 Z-0 LM 15.64

Good

Over: US 167 Sec. 1 LM15.64

1.5 Mi N Jct. 82 & 167, Union, AR

Built 2010 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,000

US 167 S-1 LM18.98

Good

Over: Flat Creek

2.9 MI N JCT US 63, Union, AR

Built 2008 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 7,721

US167 LM 3.96 Sec2

Good

Over: Sh 7 - Sec. 2

Jct Hwy 167 & 7, Union, AR

Built 2009 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 4,000

SH 15 S-1 LM 17.11

Good

Over: Dry Creek

0.3 mi.N of Newell, Union, AR

Built 2013 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 7,200

US 82 S-5 LM12.59

Good

Over: Cornie Bayou

3.0 MI W JCT SH 335, Union, AR

Built 2021 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 5,000

SH 335

Good

Over: Haynes Creek

1.5 Mi E of Norphlet, Union, AR

Built 2021 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 480

UNION CR 6 Z-(J)

Good

Over: CREEK

.5 M N CO RD 4 & 214, Union, AR

Built 1975 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,200

Union CR11 Z-F

Good

Over: HOLMES CREEK

.1 MI E CO RD 11 & 48, Union, AR

Built 1986 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,200

Union CO RD 1 Z-I

Good

Over: THREE CREEK

6.97 MI W JCT US 167, Union, AR

Built 1999 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 170

Union CO RD 1 Z-I

Good

Over: THREE CREEK RELIEF

7.15 MI W JCT US 167, Union, AR

Built 1999 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 170

UNION CR 27 ZONE L

Good

Over: HI BANK CREEK

1.50 MI W JCT CR 32, Union, AR

Built 2000 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 547

CR 10 ZONE H

Good

Over: MORGAN CREEK

.50 M W SH 15 & CR 10, Union, AR

Built 2000 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 410

Union CR 2 Z-I

Good

Over: TURKEY CREEK

0.5 MI S JCT CR 288, Union, AR

Built 2000 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 601

UNION CR 18 ZONE E

Good

Over: FLAT CREEK RELIEF

1.83 MI NW JCT US 167, Union, AR

Built 2000 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 635

UNION CR 6 (J)

Good

Over: BAYOU DE LOUTRE

0.2 MI S JCT US 82, Union, AR

Built 2000 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,200

Union CR 21 Z-C

Good

Over: CANY CREEK

2.17 MI E JCT US 82, Union, AR

Built 2000 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 90

Union CR 56 Z-G

Good

Over: Camp creek

.5 mi so co rd 50 & 56, Union, AR

Built 2001 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 50

Union CR 24 Z-B

Good

Over: Caney creek rel.

2.8 mi no New London, Union, AR

Built 2001 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 716

Union CR 42 Z-C

Good

Over: DRY CREEK

1 MI SO. JCT. CO. RD. #22, Union, AR

Built 2001 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 430

Union CR 19 Z-D

Good

Over: salt creek

1 MI.NE JCT CO.RDS 19&198, Union, AR

Built 2001 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 380

Union CoRd 23 Z-B

Good

Over: LaPile Creek

2 MI N JCT US 82& C.R.23, Union, AR

Built 2001 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 674

Union CoRd10 Z-H

Good

Over: Jones creek

2.25m E CR 51 & 10, Union, AR

Built 2001 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 410

Union CR 2 Z-I

Good

Over: Lick Creek

.5 Mi N CR 2 & 38, Union, AR

Built 2001 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 601

Union CR-18 Z-E

Good

Over: Flat creek

.25 mi W jct co rd #9 &18, Union, AR

Built 2001 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 635

Union CR 24 ZONE B

Good

Over: Caney Creek

2.6 Mi No New London, Union, AR

Built 2002 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 716

Union CR 43 ZONE D

Good

Over: Creek

0.1 MI E JCT US 167, Union, AR

Built 2002 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 146

Union CR 2 ZONE I

Good

Over: Beech Creek

0.7 MI N JCT CR 228, Union, AR

Built 2002 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 601

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Related

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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.