County profile · official public datasets

Whiteside County, IL

278 public highway bridges tracked in the FHWA National Bridge Inventory: 19.1% rated Good, 72.3% Fair, 8.6% Poor.

278
Public bridges
19.1%
Good condition
8.6%
Poor condition

The verdict

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

Whiteside County posts a higher-than-median Poor-condition share among rated counties in the state across mid-size county bridge inventory.

64th
of 102 on Poor share
8.6%
Poor-condition share
278
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.

Whiteside County Bridge Snapshot

According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory, Whiteside County ranks #64 of 102 Illinois counties with at least 5 public highway bridges on Poor-condition share (lower share ranks better; currently 8.6%). Whiteside County, Illinois contains 278 public highway bridges. Roughly 19.1% are rated “Good,” 72.3% “Fair,” and 8.6% “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

278

Public highway bridges in Whiteside County

Good condition

19.1%

53 of 278 rated 7-9

Fair condition

72.3%

201 of 278 rated 5-6

Poor condition

8.6%

24 of 278 rated 4 or below

In-state Poor-share rank

#64 of 102

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

Condition distribution

Share of 278 NBI-tracked bridges by lowest applicable component rating.

Good
19.1% (53)
Fair
72.3% (201)
Poor
8.6% (24)

Whiteside County's Poor-condition bridges carry 10,995 vehicle crossings a day

That is 1.9% of the county's reported daily bridge traffic on 8.3% of its bridges: Poor-condition structures carry less traffic than their share of the inventory. Each Poor bridge averages 478 crossings a day against 2,893 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 277 of 278 bridges in this county that report an average daily traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.

47.1% of Whiteside County's bridges have passed the 50-year mark

131 of the 278 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 19.1% 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 16.4% of the county's Poor-condition bridge traffic

IL 78 over I-88, built 1974, carries 1,800 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 24-bridge count understates how much of the daily burden sits on a single crossing.

Share is of the 10,995 daily crossings on Poor-rated bridges that report a traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.

When Whiteside County's bridges were built

278 bridges with a recorded construction year, grouped by decade

bridges

What this shows Construction peaked in the 1970s, when 76 of the county's bridges still in the inventory were built, which is 27.3% of those with a recorded year. That cohort is now 45 to 54 years old in the 2024 inventory. Its average build year (1977) matches the Illinois average (1979).

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

How Whiteside County compares with Illinois's closest counties by inventory size

The 5 Illinois counties nearest Whiteside County in number of bridges, with their condition splits. Its 8.6% Poor share is the 3rd-lowest of these 6. Its average build year of 1977 against a peer-group mean of 1981 is in line with the group.

Showing the 5 closest of 101 Illinois counties eligible for comparison.

Bridge inventory size and condition shares for Whiteside County and the 5 Illinois counties closest to it in inventory size
County Bridges Poor
Hancock County 292 20.2%
Edgar County 278 4%
Whiteside County (this page) 278 8.6%
Rock Island County 272 4.8%
Grundy County 269 26.8%
Wayne County 266 9%

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

Similar inventory size

Nearest county inventories outside IL (278 bridges here).

Similar average build year

Nearest mean year-built outside IL (1977 here).

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

Fair-condition bridges (201)

OAK GROVE AVENUE

Fair

Over: UNNAMED CREEK

0.3 M S OF ST MARYS, Whiteside, IL

Built 1982 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 950

MATZNICK ROAD

Fair

Over: COUNTY DITCH NO.1

2 MI. NW TAMPICO, Whiteside, IL

Built 1990 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 125

MASON ROAD

Fair

Over: BR OF ROCK CREEK

3 MI SW MORRISON, Whiteside, IL

Built 1978 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 50

HENRY ROAD

Fair

Over: BRANCH OF ROCK CREEK

1 MI. W. OF MORRISON, Whiteside, IL

Built 1989 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 575

COVELL RD

Fair

Over: OTTER CREEK

8 MI NW OF MORRISON, Whiteside, IL

Built 1980 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 25

BLINK ROAD

Fair

Over: OTTER CREEK

3 MI N.E. OF FULTON, Whiteside, IL

Built 1991 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 100

CREAMERY RD

Fair

Over: TRIB TO SPRING BROOK

4 MI NW OF MORRISON, Whiteside, IL

Built 2011 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 50

ILL 78

Fair

Over: STREAM

2.5 MI S OF MORRISON, Whiteside, IL

Built 1979 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,800

HAHNAMAN RD

Fair

Over: WINNEBAGO DRAINAGE D

1 MI.N OF DEER GROVE, Whiteside, IL

Built 1963 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 250

MOLINE RD

Fair

Over: MEREDOSIA CREEK

ROCK ISLAND CO LINE, Whiteside, IL

Built 2009 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 1,600

HURD RD

Fair

Over: WINNEBAGO DITCH

1 MI SW DEER GROVE, Whiteside, IL

Built 1980 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 75

HOOVER RD.

Fair

Over: SUGAR CREEK

2 MI N. STERLING, Whiteside, IL

Built 1967 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 675

CH 17 WILMOT RD

Fair

Over: I-88

3.0 MI. NE. ERIE, Whiteside, IL

Built 1975 Load: 33.7 t ADT: 200

US 30

Fair

Over: I&M FEEDER CANAL

0.3 MI E. OF IL 40, Whiteside, IL

Built 1990 Load: 33.7 t ADT: 7,350

COVELL ROAD

Fair

Over: ROCK CREEK

5 MI NE OF MORRISON, Whiteside, IL

Built 1989 Load: 33.7 t ADT: 35

YORKTOWN ROAD

Fair

Over: I-88

3 MI NE LYNDON, Whiteside, IL

Built 1974 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 100

HURD RD

Fair

Over: ROCK RIVER

AT HILLSDALE, Whiteside, IL

Built 1953 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 600

COVELL RD

Fair

Over: LITTLE ROCK CREEK

7 MI N MORRISON, Whiteside, IL

Built 1980 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 100

FULFS ROAD

Fair

Over: SPRING CREEK

4 MI NW OF STERLING, Whiteside, IL

Built 1956 Load: 34.3 t ADT: 400

KENNEDY RD

Fair

Over: CEDAR CREEK

2 MI NE ALBANY, Whiteside, IL

Built 1957 Load: 34.3 t ADT: 600

LYNDON ROAD

Fair

Over: FRENCH CREEK

0.9 MI N JCT US 30, Whiteside, IL

Built 2002 Load: 34.3 t ADT: 800

CAPP ROAD

Fair

Over: LITTLE ROCK CREEK

5 MI N OF MORRISON, Whiteside, IL

Built 1977 Load: 34.3 t ADT: 100

HOLLY RD.

Fair

Over: CATTAIL CREEK

1 MI S OF FULTON, Whiteside, IL

Built 1988 Load: 34.7 t ADT: 450

YAGER ROAD

Fair

Over: BR OF ROCK RIVER

1.5 MI NE LYNDON, Whiteside, IL

Built 1987 Load: 34.7 t ADT: 125

FULFS RD

Fair

Over: SUGAR CREEK

2.5 MI N. STERLING, Whiteside, IL

Built 1965 Load: 34.7 t ADT: 900

YORKTOWN ROAD

Fair

Over: BR OF ROCK RIVER

3 MI NE LYNDON, Whiteside, IL

Built 1983 Load: 35.0 t ADT: 100

US 30 SPUR N B

Fair

Over: I-88

3.5 MI W ROCK FALLS, Whiteside, IL

Built 1972 Load: 35.3 t ADT: 4,100

I-88 WB

Fair

Over: BN RR (ABANDON)

.5 MI S US 30, Whiteside, IL

Built 1972 Load: 35.3 t ADT: 6,600

SPRING VALLEY ROAD

Fair

Over: OTTER CREEK

6 MI NE OF FULTON, Whiteside, IL

Built 1964 Load: 35.3 t ADT: 100

SPRING VALLEY RD

Fair

Over: JOHNSON CREEK

2 MI NE FULTON, Whiteside, IL

Built 1982 Load: 35.3 t ADT: 50

US 30 SPUR S B

Fair

Over: I-88

3.5 MI W ROCK FALLS, Whiteside, IL

Built 1972 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 4,100

I-88 EB

Fair

Over: BN RR (ABANDON)

.5 MI S US 30, Whiteside, IL

Built 1972 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 6,600

BURTON ROAD

Fair

Over: ELKHORN CREEK

9 MI N OF STERLING, Whiteside, IL

Built 1953 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 25

ILL 40

Fair

Over: COON CREEK DITCH

1.2 MI N JCT ILL 172, Whiteside, IL

Built 1972 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 3,400

PENROSE RD.

Fair

Over: SPRING CREEK

1.5 MI. S.E. COLETA, Whiteside, IL

Built 1964 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 50

IL 84

Fair

Over: JOHNSON CREEK

2.5 M N ILL 136, Whiteside, IL

Built 1980 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 5,500

MELVIN ROAD

Fair

Over: HOWLAND CREEK

2 MI E OF ROCK FALLS, Whiteside, IL

Built 1960 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 650

SCIENCE RIDGE ROAD

Fair

Over: ELKHORN CREEK

1 MI NW OF STERLING, Whiteside, IL

Built 1958 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 2,300

FREEPORT RD

Fair

Over: JORDON CREEK

6 MI N STERLING, Whiteside, IL

Built 1953 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 1,800

ILL RT 84

Fair

Over: SPRING CREEK

.5 MI N ALBANY, Whiteside, IL

Built 1932 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 4,050

IL 78

Fair

Over: ROCK RIVER

N EDGE PROPHETSTOWN, Whiteside, IL

Built 1994 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 2,950

CLARK RD

Fair

Over: LITTLE ROCK CREEK

8.0 MI N MORRISON, Whiteside, IL

Built 1958 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 50

PENROSE RD

Fair

Over: JORDAN CREEK

6 MI N OF STERLING, Whiteside, IL

Built 1983 Load: 37.9 t ADT: 125

US RT 30

Fair

Over: ELKHORN CREEK

3.5 MI W ROCK FALLS, Whiteside, IL

Built 1940 Load: 38.2 t ADT: 5,300

MOLINE ROAD

Fair

Over: DRAINAGE DITCH

3 MI NE LYNDON, Whiteside, IL

Built 2006 Load: 38.2 t ADT: 1,400

YORKTOWN ROAD

Fair

Over: COUNTY DITCH NO 2

4.5 MI W OF TAMPICO, Whiteside, IL

Built 1955 Load: 38.2 t ADT: 100

US 30

Fair

Over: UNION PACIFIC RR

2.5 MI W OF MORRISON, Whiteside, IL

Built 1946 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 5,550

I-88 EB

Fair

Over: ROCK CREEK

4.5 MI. NE. ERIE, Whiteside, IL

Built 1975 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 6,550

I-88 WB

Fair

Over: ROCK CREEK

4.5 MI. NE. ERIE, Whiteside, IL

Built 1975 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 6,550

I-88 EB

Fair

Over: TR 136 A / HENRY RD

1.5 MI W ILL 78, Whiteside, IL

Built 1975 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 6,550
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.