Total bridges
114
Public highway bridges in Brown County
County profile · official public datasets
Brown County, IN
114 public highway bridges tracked in the FHWA National Bridge Inventory: 20.2% rated Good, 63.2% Fair, 16.7% Poor.
- 114
- Public bridges
- 20.2%
- Good condition
- 16.7%
- Poor condition
The verdict
According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory.
Brown County pairs a higher-than-median Poor-condition share among rated counties in the state with an older average build year than the state inventory.
- 89th
- of 92 on Poor share
- 16.7%
- Poor-condition share
- 114
- public highway bridges
- 1964
- 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.
Brown County Bridge Snapshot
According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory, Brown County ranks #89 of 92 Indiana counties with at least 5 public highway bridges on Poor-condition share (lower share ranks better; currently 16.7%). Brown County, Indiana contains 114 public highway bridges. Roughly 20.2% are rated “Good,” 63.2% “Fair,” and 16.7% “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
20.2%
23 of 114 rated 7-9
Fair condition
63.2%
72 of 114 rated 5-6
Poor condition
16.7%
19 of 114 rated 4 or below
In-state Poor-share rank
#89 of 92
Among Indiana counties with 5+ bridges, lower share ranks better
Condition distribution
Share of 114 NBI-tracked bridges by lowest applicable component rating.
Good 20.2% (23)
Fair 63.2% (72)
Poor 16.7% (19)
Brown County's Poor-condition bridges carry 4,250 vehicle crossings a day
That is 2.7% of the county's reported daily bridge traffic on 15.9% of its bridges: Poor-condition structures carry less traffic than their share of the inventory. Each Poor bridge averages 236 crossings a day against 1,496 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 113 of 114 bridges in this county that report an average daily traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
64% of Brown County's bridges have passed the 50-year mark
73 of the 114 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 20.2% 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 17.6% of the county's Poor-condition bridge traffic
TC STEELE ROAD over NORTH FORK OF SALT CREEK, built 1957, carries 750 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 19-bridge count understates how much of the daily burden sits on a single crossing.
Share is of the 4,250 daily crossings on Poor-rated bridges that report a traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
When Brown County's bridges were built
114 bridges with a recorded construction year, grouped by decade
- pre-1900 2
Built before 1900
2 bridges
- 1900s 1
1900–1909
1 bridges
- 1910s 2
1910–1919
2 bridges
- 1920s
1920–1929
11 bridges
- 1930s
1930–1939
14 bridges
- 1940s 3
1940–1949
3 bridges
- 1950s 3
1950–1959
3 bridges
- 1960s
1960–1969
24 bridges
- 1970s
1970–1979
20 bridges
- 1980s
1980–1989
16 bridges
- 1990s 8
1990–1999
8 bridges
- 2000s 3
2000–2009
3 bridges
- 2010s 6
2010–2019
6 bridges
- 2020s 1
2020–2029
1 bridges
What this shows Construction peaked in the 1960s, when 24 of the county's bridges still in the inventory were built, which is 21.1% of those with a recorded year. That cohort is now 55 to 64 years old in the 2024 inventory. Its average build year is 1964, 14 years older than the Indiana average of 1978.
How Brown County compares with Indiana's closest counties by inventory size
The 5 Indiana counties nearest Brown County in number of bridges, with their condition splits. Its 16.7% Poor share is the 5th-lowest of these 6. Its average build year of 1964 against a peer-group mean of 1978 is 14 years older.
Showing the 5 closest of 91 Indiana counties eligible for comparison.
| County | Bridges | Good | Fair | Poor | Avg. built |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crawford County | 123 | 34.1% | 48.8% | 17.1% | 1964 |
| Scott County | 118 | 47.5% | 46.6% | 5.9% | 1982 |
| Whitley County | 115 | 41.7% | 58.3% | 0% | 1984 |
| Brown County (this page) | 114 | 20.2% | 63.2% | 16.7% | 1964 |
| Tipton County | 113 | 42.5% | 55.8% | 1.8% | 1983 |
| Martin County | 104 | 40.4% | 51.9% | 7.7% | 1977 |
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 Brown 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 Brown County, both outside Indiana so the neighborhoods are not the same-state size table above.
Similar inventory size
Nearest county inventories outside IN (114 bridges here).
- Calhoun County, AR · 114 bridges
- Schuyler County, IL · 114 bridges
- Morgan County, KY · 114 bridges
- Dallas County, MO · 114 bridges
Similar average build year
Nearest mean year-built outside IN (1964 here).
- Bergen County, NJ · avg 1964 · 577 bridges
- Morris County, NJ · avg 1964 · 508 bridges
- Baltimore city County, MD · avg 1964 · 374 bridges
- Ross County, OH · avg 1964 · 356 bridges
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release. Peers floor at 10 bridges so stub inventories cannot own the match.
Fair-condition bridges (72)
PARK ROAD
FairOver: NORTH FORK SALT CREEK
00.00 BROWN CO STATE PARK, Brown, IN
Built 1838 Load: 2.7 t ADT: 400
COVERED BRIDGE RD.
FairOver: BEAN BLOSSOM CREEK
00.70 MI. S. OF SR 45, Brown, IN
Built 1880 Load: 4.5 t ADT: 50
HOOVER ROAD
FairOver: EAST FORK SALT CREEK
0.8 MI. N. PUMPKIN RDG RD, Brown, IN
Built 1934 Load: 8.6 t ADT: 300
BELL ROAD
FairOver: BEAN BLOSSOM CREEK
0.1 MI. W. SWEETWATER TRL, Brown, IN
Built 1965 Load: 12.5 t ADT: 100
JACKSON CREEK ROAD
FairOver: JACKSON CREEK
.3MI W OF YELLOWOOD LK RD, Brown, IN
Built 1933 Load: 13.1 t ADT: 100
SPRUNICA ROAD
FairOver: BEAN BLOSSOM CREEK
00.00 E BEAN BLOSSOM RD, Brown, IN
Built 1975 Load: 13.5 t ADT: 725
GREEN VALLEY ROAD
FairOver: NORTH FORK OF SALT CREEK
2.0 MI. W OF SR-46, Brown, IN
Built 1915 Load: 14.3 t ADT: 100
BEAR CREEK ROAD
FairOver: INDIAN CREEK
1.6 MI. N. BEAR CREEK RD., Brown, IN
Built 1935 Load: 14.7 t ADT: 275
GRANDVIEW ROAD
FairOver: BRANCH OF SALT CREEK
0.5 MI W OF BEAR CREEK RD, Brown, IN
Built 1989 Load: 15.4 t ADT: 225
SR 46
FairOver: N FORK SALT CREEK
00.11 W SR 135, Brown, IN
Built 1928 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 9,341
LICK CREEK ROAD
FairOver: LICK CREEK
.1 MI. N OF COTTENWOOD RD, Brown, IN
Built 1974 Load: 17.0 t ADT: 100
CLAY LICK ROAD
FairOver: CLAY LICK CREEK
00.50 N OLD SR 46, Brown, IN
Built 1989 Load: 18.0 t ADT: 900
OLD S.R. 46
FairOver: CLAY LICK CREEK
0.1 MI. N OF CLAY LICK RD, Brown, IN
Built 1928 Load: 18.2 t ADT: 1,525
HURDLE ROAD
FairOver: E FK BEAN BLOSSOM CREEK
00.90 E SR 135, Brown, IN
Built 1974 Load: 18.4 t ADT: 150
ALLENDER TRACE
FairOver: BEAR CREEK
0.1 MI W OF BEAR CREEK RD, Brown, IN
Built 1968 Load: 18.7 t ADT: 50
CLAY LICK ROAD
FairOver: CLAY LICK CREEK
00.60 N OLD SR 46, Brown, IN
Built 1989 Load: 19.2 t ADT: 900
SR 46
FairOver: NORTH FORK SALT CREEK
00.25 W SR 135, Brown, IN
Built 1964 Load: 19.8 t ADT: 10,596
HOOVER ROAD
FairOver: BR OF EAST FK SALT CREEK
1.1MI E OF SWEETWATER TRL, Brown, IN
Built 1931 Load: 20.1 t ADT: 275
POPLAR GROVE ROAD
FairOver: MIDDLE FORK SALT CREEK
0.1 MI S OF BELLSVILLE PK, Brown, IN
Built 1920 Load: 20.7 t ADT: 550
OAK GROVE ROAD
FairOver: OWL CREEK
.1 MI. W. OF HELMSBURG RD, Brown, IN
Built 1989 Load: 21.1 t ADT: 450
VALLEY BRANCH ROAD
FairOver: MOUNT LIBERTY CREEK
.1 MI S OF MT. LIBERTY RD, Brown, IN
Built 1984 Load: 21.6 t ADT: 175
CHRISTIANSBURG RD.
FairOver: HAMILTON CREEK
.1 MI. S. OF SPRUNICA RD., Brown, IN
Built 1966 Load: 22.3 t ADT: 300
GRAVEL CREEK ROAD
FairOver: GRAVEL CREEK
1.8 MI N OF ELKINSVILE RD, Brown, IN
Built 1979 Load: 22.3 t ADT: 10
BELLSVILLE PIKE
FairOver: S BR MIDDLE FK SALT CREE
.1 MI S OF HARRISON RIDGE, Brown, IN
Built 1962 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 250
BEAN BLOSSOM ROAD
FairOver: BEAN BLOSSOM CREEK
0.4 MI N OF GATESVILLE RD, Brown, IN
Built 1940 Load: 22.5 t ADT: 1,175
GATESVILLE ROAD
FairOver: BEAN BLOSSOM CREEK
.3 MI W OF BEAR WALLOW RD, Brown, IN
Built 1970 Load: 23.5 t ADT: 525
HELMSBURG ROAD
FairOver: BEAN BLOSSOM CREEK
00.30 MI. S. OF SR 45, Brown, IN
Built 1959 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 800
CROOKED CREEK ROAD
FairOver: LOWER SCHOONER CREEK
00.20 S SR 46, Brown, IN
Built 1925 Load: 23.8 t ADT: 125
OLD S.R. 46
FairOver: GREASY CREEK
.1 MI. E. OF GREASY CR RD, Brown, IN
Built 1928 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 2,400
PARSLEY ROAD
FairOver: BEAN BLOSSOM CREEK
00.10 MI E BEANBLOSSOM RD, Brown, IN
Built 1974 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 25
GATESVILLE ROAD
FairOver: E FK BEAN BLOSSOM CREEK
.1 MI W OF BEAR WALLOW RD, Brown, IN
Built 1969 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 525
PETRO ROAD
FairOver: NORTH FORK OF SALT CREEK
0.1 MI E OF UP SALT CR RD, Brown, IN
Built 1934 Load: 25.1 t ADT: 100
RICHARDS ROAD
FairOver: BEAR CREEK
0.30 MI. N. BEAR CREEK RD, Brown, IN
Built 1974 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 100
TC STEELE ROAD
FairOver: SMOKY HOLLOW
0.4 MI S OF DAVIS CR ROAD, Brown, IN
Built 1974 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 100
BELLSVILLE PIKE
FairOver: BRANCH MIDDLE FK SALT CK
0.4 MI. N OF GRANDVIEW RD, Brown, IN
Built 1964 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 350
SR 135
FairOver: PLEASANT VALLEY CREEK
05.00 S SR 46, Brown, IN
Built 1985 Load: 26.6 t ADT: 488
GREASY CREEK ROAD
FairOver: GREASY CREEK
00.40 N OLD SR 46, Brown, IN
Built 1967 Load: 27.6 t ADT: 1,225
TURNER ROAD
FairOver: N FK BEAN BLOSSOM CREEK
00.10 MI S OF RAILROAD RD, Brown, IN
Built 1925 Load: 28.5 t ADT: 20
BEAN BLOSSOM ROAD
FairOver: BEAN BLOSSOM CREEK
00.40 MI. S. OF BELL RD, Brown, IN
Built 1982 Load: 28.9 t ADT: 1,175
SLIPPERY ELM SHOOT
FairOver: BEAR CREEK
0.01 MI. W. BEAR CREEK RD, Brown, IN
Built 1986 Load: 28.9 t ADT: 100
BEAR CREEK ROAD
FairOver: BEAR CREEK
.5 MI N OF ALLENDER TRACE, Brown, IN
Built 1950 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 350
SR 46
FairOver: GNAW BONE CREEK
03.51 E SR 135, Brown, IN
Built 1960 Load: 29.5 t ADT: 8,579
BEAR CREEK ROAD
FairOver: BEAR CREEK
.3 MI. N OF JACKSON CR RD, Brown, IN
Built 1986 Load: 29.6 t ADT: 350
SR 135
FairOver: MIDDLE FORK SALT CREEK
09.85 S SR 46, Brown, IN
Built 1984 Load: 30.7 t ADT: 174
SR 45
FairOver: BEANBLOSSOM CREEK
01.71 S SR 135, Brown, IN
Built 1970 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 2,420
SPRUNICA ROAD
FairOver: NORTH FORK OF SALT CREEK
00.00 W UP SALT CR ROAD, Brown, IN
Built 1960 Load: 31.0 t ADT: 725
SHIPLEY HOLLOW RD
FairOver: LOWER SCHOONER CREEK
00.10 S SR 46, Brown, IN
Built 1986 Load: 31.8 t ADT: 30
BEAR WALLOW HILL
FairOver: E FK BEAN BLOSSOM CREEK
0.1 MI S OF GATESVILLE RD, Brown, IN
Built 2012 Load: 32.3 t ADT: 475
DUNAWAY ROAD
FairOver: LICK CREEK
0.01 MI. E. of LICK CREEK, Brown, IN
Built 1977 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 100
SR 135
FairOver: HOPPERS BRANCH
00.54 N SR 45, Brown, IN
Built 1932 Load: 32.8 t ADT: 4,142
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.