Total bridges
337
Public highway bridges in Ouachita County
County profile · official public datasets
Ouachita County, LA
337 public highway bridges tracked in the FHWA National Bridge Inventory: 27.9% rated Good, 59.3% Fair, 12.8% Poor.
- 337
- Public bridges
- 27.9%
- Good condition
- 12.8%
- Poor condition
The verdict
According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory.
Ouachita County posts a higher-than-median Poor-condition share among rated counties in the state across mid-size county bridge inventory.
- 40th
- of 64 on Poor share
- 12.8%
- Poor-condition share
- 337
- public highway bridges
- 1981
- 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.
Ouachita County Bridge Snapshot
According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory, Ouachita County ranks #40 of 64 Louisiana counties with at least 5 public highway bridges on Poor-condition share (lower share ranks better; currently 12.8%). Ouachita County, Louisiana contains 337 public highway bridges. Roughly 27.9% are rated “Good,” 59.3% “Fair,” and 12.8% “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
27.9%
94 of 337 rated 7-9
Fair condition
59.3%
200 of 337 rated 5-6
Poor condition
12.8%
43 of 337 rated 4 or below
In-state Poor-share rank
#40 of 64
Among Louisiana counties with 5+ bridges, lower share ranks better
Condition distribution
Share of 337 NBI-tracked bridges by lowest applicable component rating.
Good 27.9% (94)
Fair 59.3% (200)
Poor 12.8% (43)
Ouachita County's Poor-condition bridges carry 186,531 vehicle crossings a day
That is 5.8% of the county's reported daily bridge traffic on 12.6% of its bridges: Poor-condition structures carry less traffic than their share of the inventory. Each Poor bridge averages 4,441 crossings a day against 3,906 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 333 of 337 bridges in this county that report an average daily traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
44.5% of Ouachita County's bridges have passed the 50-year mark
150 of the 337 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 27.9% 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 21.6% of the county's Poor-condition bridge traffic
ORANGE ST over I-20, built 1965, carries 40,300 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 43-bridge count understates how much of the daily burden sits on a single crossing.
Share is of the 186,531 daily crossings on Poor-rated bridges that report a traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
When Ouachita County's bridges were built
337 bridges with a recorded construction year, grouped by decade
- 1920s 2
1920–1929
2 bridges
- 1930s 3
1930–1939
3 bridges
- 1940s 1
1940–1949
1 bridges
- 1950s 23
1950–1959
23 bridges
- 1960s
1960–1969
105 bridges
- 1970s
1970–1979
45 bridges
- 1980s
1980–1989
42 bridges
- 1990s 40
1990–1999
40 bridges
- 2000s 23
2000–2009
23 bridges
- 2010s
2010–2019
47 bridges
- 2020s 6
2020–2029
6 bridges
What this shows Construction peaked in the 1960s, when 105 of the county's bridges still in the inventory were built, which is 31.2% of those with a recorded year. That cohort is now 55 to 64 years old in the 2024 inventory. Its average build year (1981) matches the Louisiana average (1982).
How Ouachita County compares with Louisiana's closest counties by inventory size
The 5 Louisiana counties nearest Ouachita County in number of bridges, with their condition splits. Its 12.8% Poor share is the 5th-lowest of these 6. Its average build year of 1981 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Tammany County | 360 | 33.3% | 60.6% | 6.1% | 1976 |
| Vernon County | 341 | 57.8% | 34.6% | 7.6% | 1989 |
| Ouachita County (this page) | 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 | 313 | 46% | 38.7% | 15.3% | 1983 |
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 Ouachita 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 Ouachita County, both outside Louisiana so the neighborhoods are not the same-state size table above.
Similar inventory size
Nearest county inventories outside LA (337 bridges here).
- Placer County, CA · 337 bridges
- Tama County, IA · 337 bridges
- Cowley County, KS · 337 bridges
- Windham County, VT · 337 bridges
Similar average build year
Nearest mean year-built outside LA (1981 here).
- Franklin County, OH · avg 1981 · 922 bridges
- Greenville County, SC · avg 1981 · 635 bridges
- Montgomery County, OH · avg 1981 · 632 bridges
- McLean County, IL · avg 1981 · 624 bridges
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release. Peers floor at 10 bridges so stub inventories cannot own the match.
Fair-condition bridges (200)
I0020
FairOver: YOUNGS BAYOU
.7 MI EAST OF LA 594, Ouachita, LA
Built 1965 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 84,225
I0020
FairOver: YOUNGS BAYOU
.7 MI EAST OF LA 594, Ouachita, LA
Built 1965 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 66,061
I0020
FairOver: BENNETT BAYOU
5.5 MI EAST OF US 165, Ouachita, LA
Built 1968 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 43,420
GOURD BAYOU RD
FairOver: YOUNGS BAYOU
2.5 MI S.MONROE, Ouachita, LA
Built 1984 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 278
GOLSON RD
FairOver: CHENIERE CREEK
0.057 MI SW of LA 144, Ouachita, LA
Built 1996 Load: 41.1 t ADT: 147
TONEY BAYOU RD
FairOver: TONEY BAYOU
1.0 MI SOUTH LA 34, Ouachita, LA
Built 1987 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 130
US0165-B
FairOver: CITY ST & ICRR
.3 MI NORTH OF I-20, Ouachita, LA
Built 1971 Load: 41.7 t ADT: 17,565
US0165
FairOver: LA 549 & ICRR
US 165 OVER I-20, Ouachita, LA
Built 1966 Load: 41.7 t ADT: 17,565
LA0034
FairOver: LA 34 OVER I-20
LA 34 OVER I-20, Ouachita, LA
Built 1965 Load: 41.8 t ADT: 20,451
GARLAND GIN RD
FairOver: GARLAND GIN CREEK
0.5 MILES EAST OF LA 837, Ouachita, LA
Built 2012 Load: 42.4 t ADT: 200
LA0546
FairOver: CHENIERE CREEK
8.63 MI E of LA 34, Ouachita, LA
Built 2000 Load: 42.6 t ADT: 6,382
I0020
FairOver: I-20
.3 MI EAST OF LA 34, Ouachita, LA
Built 1965 Load: 42.6 t ADT: 31,285
I0020 RAMP H
FairOver: US 165
I-20 RAMP OVER US 165, Ouachita, LA
Built 1965 Load: 42.6 t ADT: 15,642
RENWICK ST
FairOver: YOUNGS BAYOU
RENWICK ST. MONROE L, Ouachita, LA
Built 1962 Load: 42.8 t ADT: 3,000
LA0139
FairOver: CREEK
1.9 MI NORTH OD LA 594, Ouachita, LA
Built 1995 Load: 43.5 t ADT: 15,958
LA0034
FairOver: S CHENIERE CREEK
2.0 MI EAST OF LA 546, Ouachita, LA
Built 1976 Load: 43.5 t ADT: 1,693
LA0034
FairOver: ROGERS CREEK
3.9 MI EAST OF LA 546, Ouachita, LA
Built 1976 Load: 43.5 t ADT: 1,693
LA0034
FairOver: LONGS CREEK
6.7 MI EAST OF LA 546, Ouachita, LA
Built 1976 Load: 43.5 t ADT: 1,693
I0020
FairOver: I20;RAMP S3
1.7 MI EAST OF LA 34, Ouachita, LA
Built 1965 Load: 43.5 t ADT: 15,642
I0020
FairOver: I20;RAMP N3
1.7 MI EAST OF LA 34, Ouachita, LA
Built 1965 Load: 43.5 t ADT: 15,642
I0020
FairOver: I20;RAMP S5
2.2 MI EAST OF LA 34, Ouachita, LA
Built 1965 Load: 43.5 t ADT: 15,642
LA0837
FairOver: CHOUDRANT CREEK RELIEF
1.39 MI EAST OF LA 151, Ouachita, LA
Built 1984 Load: 43.5 t ADT: 1,363
LA0837
FairOver: CHOUDRANT CREEK
1.60 MI EAST OF LA 151, Ouachita, LA
Built 1984 Load: 43.5 t ADT: 1,363
LA0837
FairOver: COCKEREL CREEK
3.69 MI EAST OF LA 151, Ouachita, LA
Built 1984 Load: 43.5 t ADT: 1,363
I0020
FairOver: BENNETT BAYOU
5.0 MI EAST OF US 165, Ouachita, LA
Built 1968 Load: 44.5 t ADT: 43,420
I0020
FairOver: YOUNGS BAYOU
.7 MI EAST OF LA 594, Ouachita, LA
Built 1965 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 31,285
WASHINGTON ST
FairOver: YOUNGS BAYOU
WASHINGTON ST. MONRO, Ouachita, LA
Built 1972 Load: 45.7 t ADT: 2,000
LA0034
FairOver: BAYOU BLACK
6.39 MI EAST OF LA 546, Ouachita, LA
Built 1953 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 17,751
I0020
FairOver: I20;RAMP 1
1.0 MI EAST OF LA 34, Ouachita, LA
Built 1965 Load: 47.2 t ADT: 15,642
LA0034
FairOver: CHENIERE CREEK RELIEF
3.18 MI EAST OF LA 546, Ouachita, LA
Built 1970 Load: 49.0 t ADT: 8,694
I0020
FairOver: I20;RAMP S1
1.4 MI EAST OF LA 34, Ouachita, LA
Built 1965 Load: 49.0 t ADT: 15,642
I0020
FairOver: I20;RAMP N1
1.5 MI EAST OF LA 34, Ouachita, LA
Built 1965 Load: 49.0 t ADT: 15,642
I0020
FairOver: I20;RAMP S2
1.6 MI EAST OF LA 34, Ouachita, LA
Built 1965 Load: 49.0 t ADT: 15,642
CAMP RD
FairOver: I-20
3.6 MI EAST OF US 80, Ouachita, LA
Built 1993 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 3,770
I0020
FairOver: I20;RAMP 4
1.2 MI EAST OF LA 34, Ouachita, LA
Built 1965 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 15,642
LA0034
FairOver: LAPINE CREEK BRIDGE
.76 MI EAST OF LA 546, Ouachita, LA
Built 1970 Load: 50.8 t ADT: 8,694
I0020
FairOver: I20;RAMP N5
2.2 MI EAST OF LA 34, Ouachita, LA
Built 1965 Load: 51.7 t ADT: 15,642
I0020
FairOver: BLACK BAYOU
1.0 MI EAST OF LA 617, Ouachita, LA
Built 1965 Load: 52.6 t ADT: 84,225
I0020
FairOver: BLACK BAYOU
1.0 MI EAST OF LA 617, Ouachita, LA
Built 1965 Load: 52.6 t ADT: 66,061
I0020
FairOver: BLACK BAYOU
.1 MI EAST OF LA 34, Ouachita, LA
Built 1965 Load: 52.6 t ADT: 8,030
I0020
FairOver: BLACK BAYOU
1.0 MI EAST OF LA 617, Ouachita, LA
Built 1965 Load: 52.6 t ADT: 15,642
I0020
FairOver: I20;RAMP N2
1.6 MI EAST OF LA 34, Ouachita, LA
Built 1965 Load: 53.5 t ADT: 15,642
Henderson Brown Rd
FairOver: Watson Branch
3.5 Mi. E of LA 577, Ouachita, LA
Built 2006 Load: 58.6 t ADT: 41
LA0139
FairOver: PATRICK BAYOU
1.86 MI NORTH OF US 80, Ouachita, LA
Built 1991 Load: 59.0 t ADT: 15,958
OWENS RD
FairOver: CURRY CREEK
0.2 MI S of US 80 W, Ouachita, LA
Built 1994 Load: 63.2 t ADT: 408
INDUSTRIAL PARKWAY
FairOver: PATRICK CREEK
0.5 MILES WEST OF CHENIER, Ouachita, LA
Built 1995 Load: 74.5 t ADT: 1,239
LA0554
FairOver: DRAIN
0.7 MI E of US 165, Ouachita, LA
Built 1985 Load: 74.5 t ADT: 495
LA0841
FairOver: BAYOU
LA 841, Ouachita, LA
Built 1979 Load: 74.5 t ADT: 2,036
CHARLIE GRIGGS RD
FairOver: DRAIN TO LAPINE BAYOU
0.61 MI SE of LA 548, Ouachita, LA
Built 1996 Load: 74.5 t ADT: 106
JOHN TURNER RD
FairOver: MILL BAYOU
0.1 MI E of LA 134, Ouachita, LA
Built 1996 Load: 74.5 t ADT: 93
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.