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.

Total bridges

337

Public highway bridges in Ouachita County

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

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).

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

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.

Bridge inventory size and condition shares for Ouachita County and the 5 Louisiana counties closest to it in inventory size
County Bridges Poor
St. Tammany County 360 6.1%
Vernon County 341 7.6%
Ouachita County (this page) 337 12.8%
Lafayette County 322 7.8%
St. Landry County 317 7.6%
Natchitoches County 313 15.3%

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).

Similar average build year

Nearest mean year-built outside LA (1981 here).

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

All bridges (337)

LA0617

Fair

Over: DRAINAGE CANAL

1.65 MI NORTH OF I-20, Ouachita, LA

Built 1981 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 26,528

BASCO LANE

Fair

Over: CALLOWAY DITCH

1.62 MI E of US 165 S, Ouachita, LA

Built 2005 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 75

DOWNING PINES RD

Fair

Over: CREEK

0.26 MI SW of I-20, Ouachita, LA

Built 2002 Load: 32.4 t

MANE ST

Fair

Over: HORSE CREEK

0.15 MI SW of I-20, Ouachita, LA

Built 2000 Load: 32.4 t

STUBBS AVE

Fair

Over: WEST PRONG YOUNGS BAYOU

STUBBS ST MONROE, Ouachita, LA

Built 1962 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,200

WASHINGTON ST

Fair

Over: DRAINAGE CANAL

WASHINGTON ST. MONRO, Ouachita, LA

Built 1974 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,000

FRONTAGE RD

Fair

Over: BENNENT BAYOU

1.0 MI. WEST OF MILLHAVEN, Ouachita, LA

Built 2012 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 444

US0165

Fair

Over: YOUNGS BAYOU

.7 MI NORTH OF LA 15, Ouachita, LA

Built 1966 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 17,565

I0020

Fair

Over: CURRY CREEK

.7 MI EAST OF LA 151, Ouachita, LA

Built 1960 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 40,857

I0020

Fair

Over: CURRY CREEK

.7 MI EAST OF LA 151, Ouachita, LA

Built 1960 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 40,857

NUTLAND RD

Fair

Over: YOUNGS BAYOU

2 MILES S OF MONROE, Ouachita, LA

Built 1982 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 400

JACK BONNETT RD

Fair

Over: ROGERS CREEK

2 MI. S. E. CADEVILLE, Ouachita, LA

Built 1983 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 31

FORTUNE DR

Fair

Over: BAYOU DESIARD

BAYOU DESIARD, Ouachita, LA

Built 1990 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 1,616

I0020

Fair

Over: I-20 OVER US 165

I-20 OVER US 165, Ouachita, LA

Built 1965 Load: 33.6 t ADT: 84,225

MARION SIMMS RD

Fair

Over: LONGS CREEK

0.38 MI NW of LA 34, Ouachita, LA

Built 1997 Load: 33.7 t ADT: 261

CADEVILLE CUTOFF

Fair

Over: S CHENIERE CR AT INVRT12

1 MILE S CADEVILLE, Ouachita, LA

Built 1984 Load: 34.7 t ADT: 178

DALLAS DR

Fair

Over: PATRICK BAYOU

2 MI. N. OF SICARD, Ouachita, LA

Built 1986 Load: 34.7 t ADT: 1,166

CALYPSO ST

Fair

Over: MELON CANAL

0.1 MI N of I-20, Ouachita, LA

Built 2004 Load: 35.0 t ADT: 300

US0165

Fair

Over: MPRR US 165

1.0 MI NORTH OF LA 594, Ouachita, LA

Built 1966 Load: 35.4 t ADT: 29,759

US0165

Fair

Over: MP R/R

1.0 MI NORTH OF LA 594, Ouachita, LA

Built 1966 Load: 35.4 t ADT: 17,565

LA8406

Fair

Over: CREEK

1.67 MI NORTH OF US 80, Ouachita, LA

Built 1962 Load: 35.6 t ADT: 15,737

BREARD ST

Fair

Over: DRAINAGE DITCH

BREARD ST. MONROE LA, Ouachita, LA

Built 1970 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 2,000

LA0034

Fair

Over: INTERSTATE 20

LA 34 OVER I-20, Ouachita, LA

Built 1965 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 17,565

LA0557

Fair

Over: BAYOU LAPINE

1.09 MI SOUTH OF LA 34, Ouachita, LA

Built 2002 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 3,528

RED CUT RD

Fair

Over: DRAIN INTO LAPINE BAYOU

.3 MI NE INT. 63, Ouachita, LA

Built 1985 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 354

US0165-B

Fair

Over: DESIARD ST & ICG RR

.3 MI NORTH OF I-20, Ouachita, LA

Built 1971 Load: 37.2 t ADT: 4,400

US0165

Fair

Over: BAYOU MOUCHOIR

.88 MI NORTH OF US 165 BU, Ouachita, LA

Built 1963 Load: 37.2 t ADT: 29,759

US0165

Fair

Over: BAYOU MOUCHOIR

.88 MI NORTH OF US 165 BU, Ouachita, LA

Built 1963 Load: 37.2 t ADT: 17,565

US0165

Fair

Over: BAYOU MOUCHOIR

1.06 MI NORTH OF US 165 B, Ouachita, LA

Built 1963 Load: 37.2 t ADT: 29,759

US0165

Fair

Over: BAYOU MOUCHOIR

1.06 MI NORTH OF US 165 B, Ouachita, LA

Built 1963 Load: 37.2 t ADT: 17,565

US0165

Fair

Over: PINE BAYOU

3.65 MI NORTH OF US 165 B, Ouachita, LA

Built 1963 Load: 37.2 t ADT: 29,759

US0165

Fair

Over: PINE BAYOU

3.65 MI NORTH OF US 165 B, Ouachita, LA

Built 1963 Load: 37.2 t ADT: 17,565

PINE BLUFF RD

Fair

Over: GLADDEN BAYOU

1.89 MI E of LA 557, Ouachita, LA

Built 1990 Load: 37.9 t ADT: 431

LA0594

Fair

Over: PATRICK BAYOU

1.59 MI NORTH OF US 80, Ouachita, LA

Built 1981 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 2,642

I0020

Fair

Over: OVERPASS OFF RAMP

21.41 MI E LINCOLN PAR LN, Ouachita, LA

Built 1985 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 15,642

US0165

Fair

Over: US 165-B & M P RR @ RILL

.28 MI NORTH OF US 165 BU, Ouachita, LA

Built 1963 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 17,565

US0165

Fair

Over: US 80

US 165 OVER US 80, Ouachita, LA

Built 1980 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 29,759

US0165

Fair

Over: BAYOU DESIARD

1.25 MI NORTH OF US 80, Ouachita, LA

Built 1976 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 29,759

LA0151

Fair

Over: CREEK

2.0 MI NORTH OF SOUTH INT, Ouachita, LA

Built 1970 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 2,862

LA0841

Fair

Over: HALFWAY BAYOU

1.8 MI NORTH OF US 165, Ouachita, LA

Built 1975 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 2,060

LA0841

Fair

Over: PRAIRIE BAYOU

3.8 MI NORTH OF US 165, Ouachita, LA

Built 1975 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 2,060

JONES RD

Fair

Over: CUT OFF BAYOU

JONES ROAD, Ouachita, LA

Built 1993 Load: 39.2 t ADT: 30

CYPRESS SCHOOL RD

Fair

Over: CYPRESS CREEK

2 MI W LUNA, Ouachita, LA

Built 1984 Load: 39.5 t ADT: 235

DOWNING PINES RD

Fair

Over: CONSTITUTION DRIVE

0.08 MI S of I-20, Ouachita, LA

Built 2000 Load: 39.5 t

US0080

Fair

Over: YOUNGS BAYOU

.5 MI WEST OF LA 840-6, Ouachita, LA

Built 1935 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 17,683

LA0139

Fair

Over: CREEK

.6 MI NORTH OF LA 594, Ouachita, LA

Built 1937 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 15,958

I0020

Fair

Over: DRAIN

1.1 MI EAST OF US 165, Ouachita, LA

Built 1968 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 84,225

LA8406

Fair

Over: BAYOU DESIARD

2.67 MI NE of N 18TH ST, Ouachita, LA

Built 1995 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 15,737

MORGAN HARE RD

Fair

Over: LONG BRANCH TRIB

0.8 MI NW of LA 139, Ouachita, LA

Built 1993 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 278

I0020

Fair

Over: BLACK BAYOU (FRONTAGE RD

1.0 MI EAST OF LA 617, Ouachita, LA

Built 1986 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 60,145
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.