Total bridges
260
Public highway bridges in Jefferson County
County profile · official public datasets
Jefferson County, IL
260 public highway bridges tracked in the FHWA National Bridge Inventory: 47.7% rated Good, 46.2% Fair, 6.2% Poor.
- 260
- Public bridges
- 47.7%
- Good condition
- 6.2%
- Poor condition
The verdict
According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory.
Jefferson County pairs a better-than-median Poor-condition share among rated counties in the state with a newer average build year than the state inventory.
- Top 27%
- lowest Poor share in state
- 6.2%
- Poor-condition share
- 260
- public highway bridges
- 1984
- 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.
Jefferson County Bridge Snapshot
According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory, Jefferson County ranks #28 of 102 Illinois counties with at least 5 public highway bridges on Poor-condition share (lower share ranks better; currently 6.2%). Jefferson County, Illinois contains 260 public highway bridges. Roughly 47.7% are rated “Good,” 46.2% “Fair,” and 6.2% “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
47.7%
124 of 260 rated 7-9
Fair condition
46.2%
120 of 260 rated 5-6
Poor condition
6.2%
16 of 260 rated 4 or below
In-state Poor-share rank
#28 of 102
Among Illinois counties with 5+ bridges, lower share ranks better
Condition distribution
Share of 260 NBI-tracked bridges by lowest applicable component rating.
Good 47.7% (124)
Fair 46.2% (120)
Poor 6.2% (16)
Jefferson County's Poor-condition bridges carry 67,995 vehicle crossings a day
That is 7.4% of the county's reported daily bridge traffic on 6.2% of its bridges: Poor-condition structures carry more traffic than their share of the inventory. Each Poor bridge averages 4,250 crossings a day against 2,457 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 260 of 260 bridges in this county that report an average daily traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
36.9% of Jefferson County's bridges have passed the 50-year mark
96 of the 260 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 47.7% 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 27.6% of the county's Poor-condition bridge traffic
FAP-821 (ILL-15) over FAI-57, built 1968, carries 18,800 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 16-bridge count understates how much of the daily burden sits on a single crossing.
Share is of the 67,995 daily crossings on Poor-rated bridges that report a traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
When Jefferson County's bridges were built
260 bridges with a recorded construction year, grouped by decade
- 1900s 9
1900–1909
9 bridges
- 1920s 6
1920–1929
6 bridges
- 1930s 6
1930–1939
6 bridges
- 1950s 9
1950–1959
9 bridges
- 1960s
1960–1969
31 bridges
- 1970s
1970–1979
43 bridges
- 1980s
1980–1989
41 bridges
- 1990s
1990–1999
37 bridges
- 2000s
2000–2009
39 bridges
- 2010s
2010–2019
26 bridges
- 2020s 13
2020–2029
13 bridges
What this shows Construction peaked in the 1970s, when 43 of the county's bridges still in the inventory were built, which is 16.5% of those with a recorded year. That cohort is now 45 to 54 years old in the 2024 inventory. Its average build year is 1984, 5 years newer than the Illinois average of 1979.
How Jefferson County compares with Illinois's closest counties by inventory size
The 5 Illinois counties nearest Jefferson County in number of bridges, with their condition splits. Its 6.2% Poor share is the 2nd-lowest of these 6. Its average build year of 1984 against a peer-group mean of 1980 is in line with the group.
Showing the 5 closest of 101 Illinois counties eligible for comparison.
| County | Bridges | Good | Fair | Poor | Avg. built |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grundy County | 269 | 40.5% | 32.7% | 26.8% | 1984 |
| Wayne County | 266 | 54.1% | 36.8% | 9% | 1982 |
| DeKalb County | 261 | 40.6% | 46.4% | 13% | 1981 |
| Montgomery County | 261 | 52.1% | 40.6% | 7.3% | 1977 |
| Jefferson County (this page) | 260 | 47.7% | 46.2% | 6.2% | 1984 |
| Effingham County | 253 | 47.4% | 47.8% | 4.7% | 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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson County, both outside Illinois so the neighborhoods are not the same-state size table above.
Similar inventory size
Nearest county inventories outside IL (260 bridges here).
- Shoshone County, ID · 260 bridges
- Mitchell County, KS · 260 bridges
- Nash County, NC · 260 bridges
- Trempealeau County, WI · 260 bridges
Similar average build year
Nearest mean year-built outside IL (1984 here).
- Hennepin County, MN · avg 1984 · 936 bridges
- Duval County, FL · avg 1984 · 831 bridges
- El Paso County, CO · avg 1984 · 686 bridges
- Bell County, TX · avg 1984 · 660 bridges
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release. Peers floor at 10 bridges so stub inventories cannot own the match.
All bridges (260)
TR-373
FairOver: RAYSE CREEK
2.5 MI N WALTONVILLE, Jefferson, IL
Built 1952 Load: 11.7 t ADT: 75
TR-117
FairOver: ICG RR
3.75 MI E HARMONY, Jefferson, IL
Built 1960 Load: 13.0 t ADT: 75
TR-211
FairOver: ICG RR
2 MI NORTH BLUFORD, Jefferson, IL
Built 1963 Load: 15.9 t ADT: 50
TR-185
FairOver: CASEY FORK
JC LAKE DAM, Jefferson, IL
Built 1909 Load: 19.4 t ADT: 175
TR-159A
FairOver: SOUTHERN RR
2.5 MI N MT VERNON, Jefferson, IL
Built 1909 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 275
FAS-836 (CH-35)
FairOver: PUNCHEON CREEK
5 MI W WALTONVILLE, Jefferson, IL
Built 1956 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 550
FAS-830 (CH-6)
FairOver: CREEK
2 MI S BELLE RIVE, Jefferson, IL
Built 1987 Load: 23.0 t ADT: 375
TR-365
FairOver: BIG MUDDY RIVER
3.5 MI NE WALTONVILL, Jefferson, IL
Built 1977 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 100
FAU-8715 (OLD-15)
FairOver: STREAM
.25 MI NE ILL-15, Jefferson, IL
Built 1925 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 5,700
TR-492
FairOver: PUNCHEON CREEK
2.5 MI NNW BLUFORD, Jefferson, IL
Built 1909 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 100
FAP-726 (ILL-148)
FairOver: BIG MUDDY RIVER
1.5 MI W NASON ROAD, Jefferson, IL
Built 1980 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 3,500
FAS-2871
FairOver: CREEK
5 MI S WALTONVILLE, Jefferson, IL
Built 1968 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 125
TR-536
FairOver: CREEK
1.7 MI SE BELLE RIVE, Jefferson, IL
Built 1962 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 50
FAS 2830 CH 13
FairOver: TRIB CASEY FORK
0.5 MI E NASON, Jefferson, IL
Built 1967 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 200
TR-79
FairOver: RAYSE CREEK
2 MI W CRAVAT, Jefferson, IL
Built 1961 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 25
FAS 830 (CH 8)
FairOver: BEAR CREEK
1 MI N BLUFORD, Jefferson, IL
Built 1974 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 1,250
FAP-821 (ILL-15)
FairOver: BEAR CREEK
1 MI W MARKAM CITY, Jefferson, IL
Built 1957 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 3,500
FAI-57/RAMP-1067
FairOver: FAI-57 NB
SE TRI-LEVEL MT VERN, Jefferson, IL
Built 1968 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 1,450
TR-26
FairOver: FAI-64
1 MI E WASH CO LN, Jefferson, IL
Built 1972 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 75
FAS-826 (CH-10)
FairOver: FAI-57
2 MI N ILL-15, Jefferson, IL
Built 1968 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 2,550
CH-29
FairOver: KNOB CREEK
2.5 MI NNW WVILLE, Jefferson, IL
Built 1909 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 100
FAP-849 (ILL-142)
FairOver: BRANCH OF CASEY FORK
.5 MI S MT VERNON, Jefferson, IL
Built 1930 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 4,900
TR-1A
FairOver: FAI-57
4 MI N ILL-15, Jefferson, IL
Built 1967 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 450
FAS 2830 CH 13
FairOver: CASEY FORK CREEK
1 MI W BONNIE, Jefferson, IL
Built 1968 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 450
FAI-57/RAMP 1579
FairOver: FAI-64 WB
NW TRI-LEVEL MT VERN, Jefferson, IL
Built 1968 Load: 31.1 t ADT: 325
FAS 2830 CH 13
FairOver: CASEY FORK
1 MI W BONNIE, Jefferson, IL
Built 1968 Load: 31.1 t ADT: 450
FAP-849 (ILL-142)
FairOver: FAI-64
2.5 MI SE MT VERNON, Jefferson, IL
Built 1971 Load: 32.1 t ADT: 3,650
I 57 NB
FairOver: EW RR
1.0 MI N ILL-15 INT, Jefferson, IL
Built 1967 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 21,300
I 57 SB
FairOver: L & N RR
1.0 MI N ILL-15 INT, Jefferson, IL
Built 1967 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 21,300
FAP-821 (ILL-15)
FairOver: TWO MILE CK
3 MI E MT VERNON, Jefferson, IL
Built 1958 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 4,600
FA 821 (ILL-15WB)
FairOver: CASEY FORK OVFL
MT VERNON, Jefferson, IL
Built 1958 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,100
I 57
FairOver: STREAM
.9 MI N ILL-15 INT, Jefferson, IL
Built 1967 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 21,300
IL 142
FairOver: DITCH
Just west of UP RR, Jefferson, IL
Built 1900 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 6,500
CH-14
FairOver: LITTLE MUDDY BRANCH
1 MI N SCHELLER, Jefferson, IL
Built 1978 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 200
TR-173
FairOver: SEVEN MILE CREEK
3MI NE MT VERNON, Jefferson, IL
Built 1979 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 200
CH-21
FairOver: SNOW CREEK
1.5 MI S BOYD, Jefferson, IL
Built 1981 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 850
TR-532
FairOver: PUNCHEON CREEK
2.5 MI N BLUFORD, Jefferson, IL
Built 1982 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 75
FAS 2825 CH 14
FairOver: NOVAK CREEK
5 MI SW WOODLAWN, Jefferson, IL
Built 1987 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 500
FAS 824
FairOver: TRIB GUN CREEK
0.5 MI W SPRING GARD, Jefferson, IL
Built 1990 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 250
FAS-2827 (CH-9)
FairOver: TRIB RAYSE CREEK
3.7 MI N WALTONVILLE, Jefferson, IL
Built 1992 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 950
FAS-830 (CH-6)
FairOver: JONES BRANCH
0.9 MI S BELLE RIVE, Jefferson, IL
Built 1993 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 450
TR-369B
FairOver: TRIB CASEY FORK
2 MI S MT VERNON, Jefferson, IL
Built 1984 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 275
CH-14
FairOver: RAYSE CREEK
5 MI NW WOODLAWN, Jefferson, IL
Built 1997 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 100
TR-178
FairOver: BIG MUDDY RIVER
2 MI W MT VERNON, Jefferson, IL
Built 1985 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 75
TR-435
FairOver: ATCHISON CREEK
4 MI W BELLE RIVE, Jefferson, IL
Built 1987 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 150
CH 18
FairOver: HURRICANE CREEK
4 MI SW SCHELLER, Jefferson, IL
Built 2002 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 75
TR-444
FairOver: TWO MILE CREEK
0.25 MI SW MARLOW, Jefferson, IL
Built 1989 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 100
TR-239
FairOver: HARPER CREEK
1 MI NW MT VERNON, Jefferson, IL
Built 1989 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 100
TR-372
FairOver: DODDS CREEK
3 MI W OPPYKE, Jefferson, IL
Built 1993 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 275
TR 507
FairOver: HURRICANE CREEK
2 MI S SCHELLER, Jefferson, IL
Built 1998 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 75
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.