Total bridges
275
Public highway bridges in Ellis County
County profile · official public datasets
Ellis County, KS
275 public highway bridges tracked in the FHWA National Bridge Inventory: 51.3% rated Good, 44.7% Fair, 4% Poor.
- 275
- Public bridges
- 51.3%
- Good condition
- 4%
- Poor condition
The verdict
According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory.
Ellis County posts a better-than-median Poor-condition share among rated counties in the state across mid-size county bridge inventory.
- Top 46%
- lowest Poor share in state
- 4%
- Poor-condition share
- 275
- public highway bridges
- 1969
- 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.
Ellis County Bridge Snapshot
According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory, Ellis County ranks #48 of 104 Kansas counties with at least 5 public highway bridges on Poor-condition share (lower share ranks better; currently 4%). Ellis County, Kansas contains 275 public highway bridges. Roughly 51.3% are rated “Good,” 44.7% “Fair,” and 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
51.3%
141 of 275 rated 7-9
Fair condition
44.7%
123 of 275 rated 5-6
Poor condition
4%
11 of 275 rated 4 or below
In-state Poor-share rank
#48 of 104
Among Kansas counties with 5+ bridges, lower share ranks better
Condition distribution
Share of 275 NBI-tracked bridges by lowest applicable component rating.
Good 51.3% (141)
Fair 44.7% (123)
Poor 4% (11)
Ellis County's Poor-condition bridges carry 2,885 vehicle crossings a day
That is 0.7% of the county's reported daily bridge traffic on 4% of its bridges: Poor-condition structures carry less traffic than their share of the inventory. Each Poor bridge averages 262 crossings a day against 2,098 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 275 of 275 bridges in this county that report an average daily traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
60.4% of Ellis County's bridges have passed the 50-year mark
166 of the 275 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 51.3% 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 34.7% of the county's Poor-condition bridge traffic
Old Highway 40 over N. FORK BIG CREEK TRIB., built 1949, carries 1,000 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 11-bridge count understates how much of the daily burden sits on a single crossing.
Share is of the 2,885 daily crossings on Poor-rated bridges that report a traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
When Ellis County's bridges were built
275 bridges with a recorded construction year, grouped by decade
- 1920s 3
1920–1929
3 bridges
- 1930s 22
1930–1939
22 bridges
- 1940s 21
1940–1949
21 bridges
- 1950s 28
1950–1959
28 bridges
- 1960s
1960–1969
77 bridges
- 1970s
1970–1979
40 bridges
- 1980s
1980–1989
46 bridges
- 1990s 16
1990–1999
16 bridges
- 2000s 13
2000–2009
13 bridges
- 2010s 7
2010–2019
7 bridges
- 2020s 2
2020–2029
2 bridges
What this shows Construction peaked in the 1960s, when 77 of the county's bridges still in the inventory were built, which is 28% of those with a recorded year. That cohort is now 55 to 64 years old in the 2024 inventory. Its average build year (1969) matches the Kansas average (1972).
How Ellis County compares with Kansas's closest counties by inventory size
The 5 Kansas counties nearest Ellis County in number of bridges, with their condition splits. Its 4% Poor share is the 5th-lowest of these 6. Its average build year of 1969 against a peer-group mean of 1968 is in line with the group.
Showing the 5 closest of 103 Kansas counties eligible for comparison.
| County | Bridges | Good | Fair | Poor | Avg. built |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smith County | 281 | 31.7% | 56.9% | 11.4% | 1961 |
| Ellis County (this page) | 275 | 51.3% | 44.7% | 4% | 1969 |
| Republic County | 266 | 56% | 41% | 3% | 1976 |
| Rice County | 262 | 48.9% | 48.1% | 3.1% | 1977 |
| Russell County | 261 | 43.7% | 54.4% | 1.9% | 1966 |
| Mitchell County | 260 | 59.6% | 36.9% | 3.5% | 1962 |
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 Ellis 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 Ellis County, both outside Kansas so the neighborhoods are not the same-state size table above.
Similar inventory size
Nearest county inventories outside KS (275 bridges here).
- Walker County, AL · 275 bridges
- Harford County, MD · 275 bridges
- Seneca County, OH · 275 bridges
- Lyon County, IA · 276 bridges
Similar average build year
Nearest mean year-built outside KS (1969 here).
- Cook County, IL · avg 1969 · 1,721 bridges
- Fresno County, CA · avg 1969 · 916 bridges
- Cuyahoga County, OH · avg 1969 · 871 bridges
- Ventura County, CA · avg 1969 · 501 bridges
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release. Peers floor at 10 bridges so stub inventories cannot own the match.
Fair-condition bridges (123)
Riverview Road
FairOver: SALINE RIVER
10.5N 3.0E OF ELLIS, Ellis, KS
Built 1978 Load: 24.8 t ADT: 55
E. 27th Street
FairOver: STREAM
E. 27TH STREET, Ellis, KS
Built 1965 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 2,180
200th Avenue
FairOver: SALINE RIVER TRIBUTARY
14.8N 4.5W OF HAYS, Ellis, KS
Built 1960 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 55
3rd Street
FairOver: NORTH FORK BIG CREEK
IN VICTORIA, Ellis, KS
Built 1987 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 100
Munjor Road
FairOver: BIG CREEK
0.7E OF MUNJOR, Ellis, KS
Built 1938 Load: 25.0 t ADT: 75
Old Highway 40
FairOver: WALKER CREEK
0.4N 1.3E OF WALKER, Ellis, KS
Built 1949 Load: 25.7 t ADT: 885
Catherine Road
FairOver: N. FORK BIG CREEK TRIB.
1.4E OF CATHARINE, Ellis, KS
Built 1964 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 110
240th Avenue
FairOver: LOOKOUT HOLLOW
0.5N 0.5W OF SCHOENCHEN, Ellis, KS
Built 1950 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 65
Feedlot Road
FairOver: NORTH FORK BIG CREEK
1.0N 2.3W OF CATHARINE, Ellis, KS
Built 1960 Load: 26.1 t ADT: 55
Chetolah Gold Road
FairOver: SMOKY HILL TRIBUTARY
3.0S 1.7W OF ANTONINO, Ellis, KS
Built 1970 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 35
I70 HWY WB
FairOver: RS1910 OLD 40 HWY UPRR
3.62 MI E JT K255 WB, Ellis, KS
Built 1965 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 7,850
Riverview Road
FairOver: SALINE RIVER TRIBUTARY
10.5N 5.8E OF ELLIS, Ellis, KS
Built 1962 Load: 27.0 t ADT: 70
I70 HWY NL-SL
FairOver: BIG CREEK DRAINAGE
1.09 MI E TREGO CO LINE, Ellis, KS
Built 1965 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 7,050
MAIN ST.
FairOver: BIG CREEK
MAIN ST. IN HAYS, Ellis, KS
Built 1935 Load: 28.9 t ADT: 2,180
US183 BYPASS
FairOver: BIG CREEK
0.64 MI W JCT U183/U183Y, Ellis, KS
Built 1953 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 5,200
130th Avenue
FairOver: BIG CREEK
0.1S 1.0E OF ELLIS, Ellis, KS
Built 1968 Load: 29.4 t ADT: 60
Ellis Avenue
FairOver: SMOKY HILL RIVER
11.4S OF ELLIS, Ellis, KS
Built 1938 Load: 29.8 t ADT: 180
350th Avenue
FairOver: BIG CREEK
6.0S 0.7E OF VICTORIA, Ellis, KS
Built 1985 Load: 31.5 t ADT: 30
I70 HWY EB
FairOver: LOCAL ROAD
6.36MI E JCT U183 EB, Ellis, KS
Built 1965 Load: 31.8 t ADT: 8,350
Pfeifer Avenue
FairOver: BIG CREEK TRIBUTARY
5.0S OF VICTORIA, Ellis, KS
Built 1960 Load: 31.9 t ADT: 220
Old Highway 40
FairOver: BIG CREEK
IN ELLIS, Ellis, KS
Built 1936 Load: 32.2 t ADT: 320
Ellis Avenue
FairOver: TRIBUTARY TO BIG CREEK
1.0N OF ELLIS, Ellis, KS
Built 1965 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 605
Victoria Road
FairOver: SMOKY HILL TRIBUTARY
4.5S 1.5W OF ELLIS, Ellis, KS
Built 1930 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 95
Toulon Avenue
FairOver: BIG CREEK TRIBUTARY
0.3S 4.5E OF HAYS, Ellis, KS
Built 1979 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 780
Old Highway 40
FairOver: BIG CREEK TRIBUTARY
0.3N 1.7W OF YOCEMENTO, Ellis, KS
Built 1928 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,300
W. 6th Street
FairOver: TRIB. TO BIG CREEK
IN ELLIS, Ellis, KS
Built 1985 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 105
200th Avenue
FairOver: SALINE RIVER
14.6N 4.5W OF HAYS, Ellis, KS
Built 1973 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 55
210th Avenue
FairOver: LOOKOUT HOLLOW
1.0N OF ANTONINO, Ellis, KS
Built 1940 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 50
Smoky Hill Rivr Rd
FairOver: LOOKOUT HOLLOW
1.0N 0.7W OF SCHOENCHEN, Ellis, KS
Built 1972 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 45
270th Avenue
FairOver: SMOKY HILL TRIBUTARY
0.6N 2.5E OF SCHOENCHEN, Ellis, KS
Built 2009 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 15
280th Avenue
FairOver: SMOKY HILL TRIBUTARY
3.0S OF MUNJOR, Ellis, KS
Built 1940 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 100
300th Avenue
FairOver: NORTH FORK BIG CREEK
0.4N 0.4W OF CATHARINE, Ellis, KS
Built 1975 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 55
320th Avenue
FairOver: BIG CREEK
4.0N 1.3W OF PFEIFER, Ellis, KS
Built 1975 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 45
Vineyard Road
FairOver: MUD CREEK
3.0N 0.1W OF VICTORIA, Ellis, KS
Built 1974 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 40
Victoria Road
FairOver: MUD CREEK
1.0N 1.7E OF VICTORIA, Ellis, KS
Built 1960 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 55
Spring Hill Road
FairOver: MUD CREEK
1.0S 2.4E OF VICTORIA, Ellis, KS
Built 1976 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 45
Mount Pleasant Rd
FairOver: MUD CREEK
2.0S 2.5E OF VICTORIA, Ellis, KS
Built 1987 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 50
370th Avenue
FairOver: SMOKY HILL RIVER
1.0N 3.7E OF PFEIFER, Ellis, KS
Built 1970 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 55
Munjor Road
FairOver: NORTH FORK BIG CREEK
3.0S 3.2E OF VICTORIA, Ellis, KS
Built 1975 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 50
Homestead Road
FairOver: SALINE RIVER
0.7W OF FAIRPORT, Ellis, KS
Built 1976 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 20
OLD 40 BY-PASS
FairOver: CHETOLAH CREEK
OLD 40 BY-PASS, Ellis, KS
Built 1945 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 4,055
E 8TH STREET
FairOver: CHETOLAH CREEK
E 8TH STREET IN HAYS, Ellis, KS
Built 1945 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 4,560
E. 22ND. ST.
FairOver: CHETOLAH CREEK
E. 22ND. ST. IN HAYS, Ellis, KS
Built 1945 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 5,935
W 33RD STREET
FairOver: LINCOLN DRAW
W 33RD STREET IN HAYS, Ellis, KS
Built 1975 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 2,845
E. 6TH. ST.
FairOver: MONTGOMERY STREET DITCH
E. 6TH. ST. IN HAYS, Ellis, KS
Built 1950 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 880
E. 7TH. ST.
FairOver: MONTGOMERY STREET DITCH
E. 7TH. ST. IN HAYS, Ellis, KS
Built 1977 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,170
ASH STREET
FairOver: SKYLINE DRAW
ASH STREET IN HAYS, Ellis, KS
Built 1968 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 180
W. 32ND. ST.
FairOver: LINCOLN DRAW
W. 32ND. ST. IN HAYS, Ellis, KS
Built 1986 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 200
US183 HWY
FairOver: SMOKY HILL RIVER
1.19 MI N RUSH COLN, Ellis, KS
Built 1970 Load: 33.3 t ADT: 3,490
240th Avenue
FairOver: BIG CREEK TRIBUTARY
3.7S OF HAYS, Ellis, KS
Built 1930 Load: 33.6 t ADT: 540
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.