County profile · official public datasets

Mitchell County, KS

260 public highway bridges tracked in the FHWA National Bridge Inventory: 59.6% rated Good, 36.9% Fair, 3.5% Poor.

260
Public bridges
59.6%
Good condition
3.5%
Poor condition

The verdict

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

Mitchell County pairs a better-than-median Poor-condition share among rated counties in the state with an older average build year than the state inventory.

Top 42%
lowest Poor share in state
3.5%
Poor-condition share
260
public highway bridges
1962
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.

Mitchell County Bridge Snapshot

According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory, Mitchell County ranks #44 of 104 Kansas counties with at least 5 public highway bridges on Poor-condition share (lower share ranks better; currently 3.5%). Mitchell County, Kansas contains 260 public highway bridges. Roughly 59.6% are rated “Good,” 36.9% “Fair,” and 3.5% “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

260

Public highway bridges in Mitchell County

Good condition

59.6%

155 of 260 rated 7-9

Fair condition

36.9%

96 of 260 rated 5-6

Poor condition

3.5%

9 of 260 rated 4 or below

In-state Poor-share rank

#44 of 104

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

Condition distribution

Share of 260 NBI-tracked bridges by lowest applicable component rating.

Good
59.6% (155)
Fair
36.9% (96)
Poor
3.5% (9)

Mitchell County's Poor-condition bridges carry 1,232 vehicle crossings a day

That is 1.7% of the county's reported daily bridge traffic on 3.5% of its bridges: Poor-condition structures carry less traffic than their share of the inventory. Each Poor bridge averages 137 crossings a day against 288 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.

70.8% of Mitchell County's bridges have passed the 50-year mark

184 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 59.6% 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 81.2% of the county's Poor-condition bridge traffic

RS 1640 over STREAM, built 1930, 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 9-bridge count understates how much of the daily burden sits on a single crossing.

Share is of the 1,232 daily crossings on Poor-rated bridges that report a traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.

When Mitchell County's bridges were built

260 bridges with a recorded construction year, grouped by decade

bridges

What this shows Construction peaked in the 1930s, when 57 of the county's bridges still in the inventory were built, which is 21.9% of those with a recorded year. That cohort is now 85 to 94 years old in the 2024 inventory. Its average build year is 1962, 10 years older than the Kansas average of 1972.

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

How Mitchell County compares with Kansas's closest counties by inventory size

The 5 Kansas counties nearest Mitchell County in number of bridges, with their condition splits. Its 3.5% Poor share is the 4th-lowest of these 6. Its average build year of 1962 against a peer-group mean of 1973 is 11 years older.

Showing the 5 closest of 103 Kansas counties eligible for comparison.

Bridge inventory size and condition shares for Mitchell County and the 5 Kansas counties closest to it in inventory size
County Bridges Poor
Rice County 262 3.1%
Russell County 261 1.9%
Mitchell County (this page) 260 3.5%
Ellsworth County 259 2.7%
Linn County 257 4.7%
Brown County 256 3.9%

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

Similar inventory size

Nearest county inventories outside KS (260 bridges here).

Similar average build year

Nearest mean year-built outside KS (1962 here).

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

All 260 Good 155 Fair 96 Poor 9

Good-condition bridges (155)

LOCAL RD. L3b

Good

Over: ASHER CREEK

0.2W OF ASHERVILLE, Mitchell, KS

Built 1974 Load: 22.5 t ADT: 45

RS 464

Good

Over: STREAM

1.0N 6.5E OF TIPTON, Mitchell, KS

Built 1960 Load: 22.8 t ADT: 90

LOCAL RD.

Good

Over: BROWNS CREEK

4.0E 2.2N OF GLEN ELDER, Mitchell, KS

Built 1983 Load: 22.9 t ADT: 30

Glen Elder Dam Rd

Good

Over: Glen Elder Dam Spillway

1.6 MI S. of Glen Elder, Mitchell, KS

Built 1966 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 100

LOCAL RD.

Good

Over: BROWNS CREEK

1.8N 4.2E OF GLEN ELDER, Mitchell, KS

Built 1986 Load: 23.4 t ADT: 40

LOCAL RD. O9G

Good

Over: TRIB. TO WALNUT CREEK

2.0N 5.8E OF TIPTON, Mitchell, KS

Built 1981 Load: 24.1 t ADT: 40

LOCAL RD. B1J2

Good

Over: LIMESTONE CREEK

0.4W 3.4N OF GLEN ELDER, Mitchell, KS

Built 1978 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 40

LOCAL RD. S6d

Good

Over: SECOND CREEK

5.5S 0.5W OF SIMPSON, Mitchell, KS

Built 1980 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 20

LOCAL RD. S7G1

Good

Over: SALT CREEK

5.0N 1.8E OF HUNTER, Mitchell, KS

Built 1979 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 20

RS 236

Good

Over: STREAM

0.5N OF TIPTON, Mitchell, KS

Built 1977 Load: 24.8 t ADT: 360

LOCAL RD. I9J

Good

Over: LITTLE WALNUT CREEK

0.4E 3.0S OF GLEN ELDER, Mitchell, KS

Built 1983 Load: 24.8 t ADT: 30

RS 5019

Good

Over: Gill Creek

SOUTH EDGE OF BELOIT, Mitchell, KS

Built 1967 Load: 25.2 t ADT: 1,055

LOCAL RD. D3a

Good

Over: WEST ASHER CREEK

2.8W 1.0S OF SCOTTSVILLE, Mitchell, KS

Built 1979 Load: 25.2 t ADT: 30

LOCAL RD. J6a

Good

Over: WEST ASHER CREEK

5.5E 1.0S OF BELOIT, Mitchell, KS

Built 1980 Load: 25.2 t ADT: 40

RS 236

Good

Over: WACONDA LAKE

2.0S OF CAWKER CITY, Mitchell, KS

Built 1969 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 235

U7B

Good

Over: Stream

4 Mi S .7 Mi E of Tipton, Mitchell, KS

Built 2012 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 25

LOCAL RD. F9O

Good

Over: BROWNS CREEK

0.4S 5.0E OF GLEN ELDER, Mitchell, KS

Built 1991 Load: 26.1 t ADT: 40

LOCAL RD. E4a

Good

Over: WEST ASHER CREEK

2.0N 2.4E OF GILBERT, Mitchell, KS

Built 1983 Load: 26.1 t ADT: 20

RS 343

Good

Over: EAST ASHER CREEK

3.2N OF ASHERVILLE, Mitchell, KS

Built 1935 Load: 27.0 t ADT: 60

RS 1033

Good

Over: SOLOMON RIVER

2.5S 1.1E OF BELOIT, Mitchell, KS

Built 1994 Load: 27.0 t ADT: 185

LOCAL RD. G5c7

Good

Over: TRIB. TO E. ASHER CREEK

5.0S OF SCOTTSVILLE, Mitchell, KS

Built 1955 Load: 27.4 t ADT: 20

LOCAL RD. F4X

Good

Over: TRIB. TO PLUM CREEK

2.5N 2.8E OF BELOIT, Mitchell, KS

Built 1976 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 40

MINOR COL GY6

Good

Over: DRY CREEK

1.0N 3.0E OF BELOIT, Mitchell, KS

Built 1985 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 40

US24 HWY

Good

Over: SOLOMON RIVER DRAINAGE

0.68 MI SE K9, Mitchell, KS

Built 1952 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 3,580

RS 236

Good

Over: CARR CREEK

6.0S 1.1W OF CAWKER CITY, Mitchell, KS

Built 1969 Load: 30.3 t ADT: 355

U7Y

Good

Over: TRIB. TO FOURTH CREEK

2.9W 9.0S OF ASHERVILLE, Mitchell, KS

Built 1977 Load: 30.6 t ADT: 25

LOCAL RD. BO9

Good

Over: BROWNS CREEK

_4.0E 2.8N of Glen Elder, Mitchell, KS

Built 2015 Load: 31.8 t ADT: 45

LOCAL RD. I8R2

Good

Over: INDIAN CREEK

0.6S 2.5W OF BELOIT, Mitchell, KS

Built 2004 Load: 31.8 t ADT: 20

LOCAL RD. M5H

Good

Over: WALNUT CREEK

2.0W 7.0S OF GLEN ELDER, Mitchell, KS

Built 1982 Load: 32.0 t ADT: 30

LOCAL RD. N5H

Good

Over: TRIB. TO WALNUT CREEK

3.0N 6.6E OF TIPTON, Mitchell, KS

Built 2002 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 20

RS 236

Good

Over: DRAINAGE CHANNEL

0.5N OF CAWKER CITY, Mitchell, KS

Built 1967 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 230

RS 463

Good

Over: ANTELOPE CREEK

7.5S 8.1W OF BELOIT, Mitchell, KS

Built 2000 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 50

RS 463

Good

Over: PEARSON CREEK

7.5S 7.2W OF BELOIT, Mitchell, KS

Built 1930 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 50

RS 466

Good

Over: STREAM

2.5S 10.3W OF BELOIT, Mitchell, KS

Built 1987 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 270

RS 1034

Good

Over: SECOND CREEK

5.3S OF SIMPSON, Mitchell, KS

Built 1935 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 147

RS 1716

Good

Over: STREAM

7.5S 2.6W OF BELOIT, Mitchell, KS

Built 1950 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 55

Main St in Beloit

Good

Over: GILL CREEK

0.5 E OF K-14 on Main St, Mitchell, KS

Built 1940 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,500

PA7

Good

Over: TRIB. TO CARR CREEK

1.0W 0.3N OF TIPTON, Mitchell, KS

Built 1970 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 50

LOCAL RD. UA9

Good

Over: TRIB. TO N. CARR CREEK

1.0W 5.0S OF TIPTON, Mitchell, KS

Built 1948 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 40

MINOR COL M45A

Good

Over: TRIB. TO CARR CREEK

0.6W 4.0N OF TIPTON, Mitchell, KS

Built 1948 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 50

LOCAL RD. LB5

Good

Over: TRIB. TO CARR CREEK

0.4E 5.0N OF TIPTON, Mitchell, KS

Built 1940 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 25

LOCAL RD. UC2

Good

Over: TRIB. TO CARR CREEK

2.8N 3.0W OF HUNTER, Mitchell, KS

Built 1947 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 25

LOCAL RD. P3C

Good

Over: TRIB. TO CARR CREEK

1.0N 1.3E OF TIPTON, Mitchell, KS

Built 1967 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 40

LOCAL RD. D4D

Good

Over: TRIB. TO SOLOMON RIVER

N. EDGE OF CAWKER CITY, Mitchell, KS

Built 1965 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 50

LOCAL RD. PD2

Good

Over: TRIB. TO CARR CREEK

0.3N 2.0E OF TIPTON, Mitchell, KS

Built 1965 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 50

LOCAL RD. I1D

Good

Over: TRIB. TO LAKE

0.2E 4.0S OF CAWKER CITY, Mitchell, KS

Built 1948 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 50

LOCAL RD. I2D

Good

Over: TRIB. TO MILL CREEK

0.2E 4.0S OF CAWKER CITY, Mitchell, KS

Built 1940 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 50

LOCAL RD. B9F

Good

Over: TRIB. TO GRANITE CREEK

3.0N 2.9E OF CAWKER CITY, Mitchell, KS

Built 1968 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 35

LOCAL RD. LD3

Good

Over: TRIB. TO N. WALNUT CREEK

5.0E 4.4N OF TIPTON, Mitchell, KS

Built 1960 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 30

LOCAL RD. I6G

Good

Over: TRIB. TO WALNUT CREEK

3.0W 3.0S OF GLEN ELDER, Mitchell, KS

Built 1940 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 20

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.