Total bridges
313
Public highway bridges in Natchitoches County
County profile · official public datasets
Natchitoches County, LA
313 public highway bridges tracked in the FHWA National Bridge Inventory: 46% rated Good, 38.7% Fair, 15.3% Poor.
- 313
- Public bridges
- 46%
- Good condition
- 15.3%
- Poor condition
The verdict
According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory.
Natchitoches County posts a higher-than-median Poor-condition share among rated counties in the state across mid-size county bridge inventory.
- 48th
- of 64 on Poor share
- 15.3%
- Poor-condition share
- 313
- public highway bridges
- 1983
- 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.
Natchitoches County Bridge Snapshot
According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory, Natchitoches County ranks #48 of 64 Louisiana counties with at least 5 public highway bridges on Poor-condition share (lower share ranks better; currently 15.3%). Natchitoches County, Louisiana contains 313 public highway bridges. Roughly 46% are rated “Good,” 38.7% “Fair,” and 15.3% “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
46%
144 of 313 rated 7-9
Fair condition
38.7%
121 of 313 rated 5-6
Poor condition
15.3%
48 of 313 rated 4 or below
In-state Poor-share rank
#48 of 64
Among Louisiana counties with 5+ bridges, lower share ranks better
Condition distribution
Share of 313 NBI-tracked bridges by lowest applicable component rating.
Good 46% (144)
Fair 38.7% (121)
Poor 15.3% (48)
Natchitoches County's Poor-condition bridges carry 81,311 vehicle crossings a day
That is 5.7% of the county's reported daily bridge traffic on 15.3% of its bridges: Poor-condition structures carry less traffic than their share of the inventory. Each Poor bridge averages 1,694 crossings a day against 5,561 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 313 of 313 bridges in this county that report an average daily traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
30.4% of Natchitoches County's bridges have passed the 50-year mark
95 of the 313 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 46% 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 22.5% of the county's Poor-condition bridge traffic
I0049 over BAYOU DERBONNE, built 1986, carries 18,305 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 48-bridge count understates how much of the daily burden sits on a single crossing.
Share is of the 81,311 daily crossings on Poor-rated bridges that report a traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
When Natchitoches County's bridges were built
313 bridges with a recorded construction year, grouped by decade
- 1920s 2
1920–1929
2 bridges
- 1930s 5
1930–1939
5 bridges
- 1940s 5
1940–1949
5 bridges
- 1950s 31
1950–1959
31 bridges
- 1960s 25
1960–1969
25 bridges
- 1970s
1970–1979
54 bridges
- 1980s
1980–1989
82 bridges
- 1990s
1990–1999
45 bridges
- 2000s 30
2000–2009
30 bridges
- 2010s 24
2010–2019
24 bridges
- 2020s 10
2020–2029
10 bridges
What this shows Construction peaked in the 1980s, when 82 of the county's bridges still in the inventory were built, which is 26.2% of those with a recorded year. That cohort is now 35 to 44 years old in the 2024 inventory. Its average build year (1983) matches the Louisiana average (1982).
How Natchitoches County compares with Louisiana's closest counties by inventory size
The 5 Louisiana counties nearest Natchitoches County in number of bridges, with their condition splits. Its 15.3% Poor share is the 6th-lowest of these 6. Its average build year of 1983 against a peer-group mean of 1983 is in line with the group.
Showing the 5 closest of 63 Louisiana counties eligible for comparison.
| County | Bridges | Good | Fair | Poor | Avg. built |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vernon County | 341 | 57.8% | 34.6% | 7.6% | 1989 |
| Ouachita County | 337 | 27.9% | 59.3% | 12.8% | 1981 |
| Lafayette County | 322 | 44.7% | 47.5% | 7.8% | 1986 |
| St. Landry County | 317 | 43.2% | 49.2% | 7.6% | 1980 |
| Natchitoches County (this page) | 313 | 46% | 38.7% | 15.3% | 1983 |
| Washington County | 285 | 44.2% | 44.2% | 11.6% | 1979 |
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 Natchitoches 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 Natchitoches County, both outside Louisiana so the neighborhoods are not the same-state size table above.
Similar inventory size
Nearest county inventories outside LA (313 bridges here).
- Linn County, MO · 313 bridges
- Cedar County, NE · 313 bridges
- Jackson County, AL · 314 bridges
- Cloud County, KS · 314 bridges
Similar average build year
Nearest mean year-built outside LA (1983 here).
- Dallas County, TX · avg 1983 · 3,230 bridges
- Bexar County, TX · avg 1983 · 2,342 bridges
- Sedgwick County, KS · avg 1983 · 1,333 bridges
- Will County, IL · avg 1983 · 649 bridges
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release. Peers floor at 10 bridges so stub inventories cannot own the match.
Poor-condition bridges (48)
LA1226
PoorOver: BAYOU CHEVREUILLE
2.7 MI. N OF INT US71, Natchitoches, LA
Built 1967 Load: 7.5 t ADT: 41
LA0485
PoorOver: LITTLE RIVER RELIEF
3.5 MI. NORTH OF LA 6, Natchitoches, LA
Built 1956 Load: 9.1 t ADT: 508
LA0119
PoorOver: CREEK
0.40 MILES NORTH OF LA 8, Natchitoches, LA
Built 1971 Load: 11.3 t ADT: 189
Government Rd
PoorOver: CYPRESS CR.
0.86 M. E. OF LA 153 NEAR, Natchitoches, LA
Built 1965 Load: 11.7 t ADT: 152
LA0485
PoorOver: LITTLE RIVER
1.53 MI N OF JCT LA 1222, Natchitoches, LA
Built 1956 Load: 11.8 t ADT: 508
LA0118
PoorOver: CREEK
3.7 MILES WEST OF LA 117, Natchitoches, LA
Built 1976 Load: 12.4 t ADT: 1,471
LA0487
PoorOver: BRUSHY BAYOU
7.7 MI. N OF LA120, Natchitoches, LA
Built 1975 Load: 13.6 t ADT: 968
Old Victoria Rd
PoorOver: TRUDO CREEK
0.44 MILES NORTH OF ROBEL, Natchitoches, LA
Built 1985 Load: 13.6 t ADT: 80
FDR 360
PoorOver: LIVROGNE BAYOU
6.5 M. WSW. OF GORUM, Natchitoches, LA
Built 1978 Load: 14.3 t ADT: 30
Forest Rd
PoorOver: LYLES CREEK
2.9 MILES NW OF LA 118, Natchitoches, LA
Built 1970 Load: 14.5 t ADT: 32
Shady Grove Rd
PoorOver: MIDDLE CREEK
1.25 MI. EAST OF LA 117, Natchitoches, LA
Built 1983 Load: 14.6 t ADT: 92
Brandon Cotton Rd
PoorOver: TERRE BLANC BAYOU
0.73 M. W. OF LA 485, Natchitoches, LA
Built 1981 Load: 14.6 t ADT: 92
LA0117
PoorOver: FLATWOODS CREEK
0.34 MI. SOUTH OF LA 6, Natchitoches, LA
Built 1977 Load: 15.4 t ADT: 3,420
Forest Rd
PoorOver: CANEY BRANCH
0.5 MILES NW OF LA 118, Natchitoches, LA
Built 1972 Load: 15.6 t ADT: 42
Shady Grove Rd
PoorOver: MIDDLE CREEK
1.33 MI. EAST OF LA 117, Natchitoches, LA
Built 1983 Load: 15.6 t ADT: 92
Shady Grove Rd
PoorOver: MIDDLE CREEK
1.22 MI. EAST OF LA 117, Natchitoches, LA
Built 1983 Load: 15.6 t ADT: 92
Shady Grove Rd
PoorOver: MIDDLE CREEK
1.06 MI. EAST OF LA 117, Natchitoches, LA
Built 1983 Load: 15.6 t ADT: 90
LA0485
PoorOver: LITTLE RIVER RELIEF
3.85 MI. NORTH OF LA 6, Natchitoches, LA
Built 1956 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 508
LA0001-X
PoorOver: CANE RIVER
.01 MI. S OF INT LA1224, Natchitoches, LA
Built 1936 Load: 16.5 t ADT: 6,362
US0071
PoorOver: SALINE BAYOU
.7 MI. N OF INT LA477, Natchitoches, LA
Built 1956 Load: 16.8 t ADT: 1,691
Nelson Rd
PoorOver: BRUSHY CREEK
0.13 M. W. OF LA 120, Natchitoches, LA
Built 1978 Load: 17.1 t ADT: 72
FDR 354
PoorOver: HYATT BRANCH
NO DATA ENTERED, Natchitoches, LA
Built 1970 Load: 17.8 t ADT: 30
FDR 508
PoorOver: EIGHTMILE CREEK
NATIONAL FOREST ROAD, Natchitoches, LA
Built 1970 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 30
LA0485
PoorOver: LITTLE RIVER RELIEF
3.34 MI. NORTH OF LA 6, Natchitoches, LA
Built 1956 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 508
LA0119
PoorOver: CREEK
6.55 MI. NORTH OF LA 8, Natchitoches, LA
Built 1968 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 189
LA0119
PoorOver: CREEK
6.59 MI. NORHT OF LA 8, Natchitoches, LA
Built 1968 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 189
Government Rd
PoorOver: CYPRESS CR.
1.46 M. E. OF LA 153 NEAR, Natchitoches, LA
Built 1965 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 152
FH 59
PoorOver: DOUBLE BRANCH
NO DATA ENTERED, Natchitoches, LA
Built 1969 Load: 18.5 t ADT: 80
FH 59
PoorOver: STEEP CREEK
NO DATA ENTERED, Natchitoches, LA
Built 1967 Load: 18.8 t ADT: 80
US0071
PoorOver: CHEVREUILLE B.
1.7 MI. N OF INT LA477, Natchitoches, LA
Built 1956 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 1,691
LA0001
PoorOver: CANE RIVER
.05 MI. N OF S INT LA495, Natchitoches, LA
Built 1948 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 996
LA0117
PoorOver: ST. JOHNS CREEK
0.58 MI. SOUTH OF LA 6, Natchitoches, LA
Built 1977 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 3,420
LA0485
PoorOver: TAPALCAT BAYOU
6.70 MI N OF JCT LA 1222, Natchitoches, LA
Built 1956 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 25
FDR 525
PoorOver: ANTOINE CREEK
NATIONAL FOREST ROAD, Natchitoches, LA
Built 1965 Load: 20.1 t ADT: 50
LA0006
PoorOver: RED RIVER @ GRAND ECORE
2.3 MI. N OF JCT 3175, Natchitoches, LA
Built 1959 Load: 20.1 t ADT: 15,363
LA0009
PoorOver: EIGHT MILE CREEK
0.45 MI. NORTH OF LA 126, Natchitoches, LA
Built 1977 Load: 20.4 t ADT: 1,131
LA0120
PoorOver: MACHIS BAYOU
9.11 MI. EAST OF LA 117, Natchitoches, LA
Built 1930 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 665
LA0156
PoorOver: CREEK
9.7 MI. E OF INT LA9, Natchitoches, LA
Built 1926 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 525
FDR 360
PoorOver: LIVROGNE BAYOU
5.6 M. W. OF GORUM, Natchitoches, LA
Built 1978 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 30
LA0153
PoorOver: DRAIN
5.08 MI. N OF INT LA9, Natchitoches, LA
Built 1974 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 609
LA0009
PoorOver: CHOCTAW CREEK
2.26 MI. NORTH OF LA 479, Natchitoches, LA
Built 1977 Load: 26.6 t ADT: 282
FDR 337
PoorOver: MIDDLE CREEK
NATIONAL FOREST ROAD, Natchitoches, LA
Built 1970 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 30
LA0001
PoorOver: CANE RIVER
.8 MI. N OF S INT LA490, Natchitoches, LA
Built 1963 Load: 34.5 t ADT: 748
LA0119
PoorOver: BAYOU PIERRE
5.89 MI. NORTH OF LA 8, Natchitoches, LA
Built 1971 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 189
LA0487
PoorOver: BRUSHY BAYOU
1.7 M S OF AJAX, Natchitoches, LA
Built 1989 Load: 74.5 t ADT: 968
LA0119
PoorOver: CREEK
3.67 MI. NORTH OF LA 8, Natchitoches, LA
Built 1972 Load: 74.5 t ADT: 189
I0049
PoorOver: BAYOU DERBONNE
0.69 MILES NORTH OF LA 11, Natchitoches, LA
Built 1986 Load: 74.5 t ADT: 18,305
I0049
PoorOver: BAYOU LACARP
2.68 MI NORTH OF LA 119, Natchitoches, LA
Built 1986 Load: 74.5 t ADT: 18,305
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.