County profile · official public datasets

Vernon County, LA

341 public highway bridges tracked in the FHWA National Bridge Inventory: 57.8% rated Good, 34.6% Fair, 7.6% Poor.

341
Public bridges
57.8%
Good condition
7.6%
Poor condition

The verdict

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

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

Top 28%
lowest Poor share in state
7.6%
Poor-condition share
341
public highway bridges
1989
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.

Vernon County Bridge Snapshot

According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory, Vernon County ranks #18 of 64 Louisiana counties with at least 5 public highway bridges on Poor-condition share (lower share ranks better; currently 7.6%). Vernon County, Louisiana contains 341 public highway bridges. Roughly 57.8% are rated “Good,” 34.6% “Fair,” and 7.6% “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

341

Public highway bridges in Vernon County

Good condition

57.8%

197 of 341 rated 7-9

Fair condition

34.6%

118 of 341 rated 5-6

Poor condition

7.6%

26 of 341 rated 4 or below

In-state Poor-share rank

#18 of 64

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

Condition distribution

Share of 341 NBI-tracked bridges by lowest applicable component rating.

Good
57.8% (197)
Fair
34.6% (118)
Poor
7.6% (26)

Vernon County's Poor-condition bridges carry 14,420 vehicle crossings a day

That is 1.9% of the county's reported daily bridge traffic on 7.7% of its bridges: Poor-condition structures carry less traffic than their share of the inventory. Each Poor bridge averages 555 crossings a day against 2,622 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 338 of 341 bridges in this county that report an average daily traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.

17.6% of Vernon County's bridges have passed the 50-year mark

60 of the 341 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 57.8% 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 25% of the county's Poor-condition bridge traffic

JEAN ST over CASTOR BAYOU TRIB., built 1970, carries 3,600 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 26-bridge count understates how much of the daily burden sits on a single crossing.

Share is of the 14,420 daily crossings on Poor-rated bridges that report a traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.

When Vernon County's bridges were built

341 bridges with a recorded construction year, grouped by decade

bridges

What this shows Construction peaked in the 1990s, when 70 of the county's bridges still in the inventory were built, which is 20.5% of those with a recorded year. That cohort is now 25 to 34 years old in the 2024 inventory. Its average build year is 1989, 7 years newer than the Louisiana average of 1982.

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

How Vernon County compares with Louisiana's closest counties by inventory size

The 5 Louisiana counties nearest Vernon County in number of bridges, with their condition splits. Its 7.6% Poor share is the 3rd-lowest of these 6. Its average build year of 1989 against a peer-group mean of 1981 is 8 years newer.

Showing the 5 closest of 63 Louisiana counties eligible for comparison.

Bridge inventory size and condition shares for Vernon County and the 5 Louisiana counties closest to it in inventory size
County Bridges Poor
St. Tammany County 360 6.1%
Vernon County (this page) 341 7.6%
Ouachita County 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 Vernon 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 Vernon County, both outside Louisiana so the neighborhoods are not the same-state size table above.

Similar inventory size

Nearest county inventories outside LA (341 bridges here).

Similar average build year

Nearest mean year-built outside LA (1989 here).

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

All bridges (341)

422 FDR

Fair

Over: BUNDICK CREEK

3.5 M. ESE. OF PICKE, Vernon, LA

Built 1975 ADT: 250

422 FDR

Fair

Over: BUNDICK CREEK

3.5 MI.E.S.E.OF PICKERING, Vernon, LA

Built 1983 ADT: 250

LA0399

Fair

Over: FLAT BRANCH

1.99 MI NORTH OF LA 10, Vernon, LA

Built 1964 Load: 7.9 t ADT: 396

LOUISIANA AVENUE

Fair

Over: KCS RAILROAD

FT. POLK LA, Vernon, LA

Built 1978 Load: 10.0 t ADT: 4,500

LA0399

Fair

Over: CREEK

.44 MI NORTH OF LA 458, Vernon, LA

Built 1943 Load: 10.3 t ADT: 396

LOUISIANA AVENUE

Fair

Over: BAYOU ZOURIE BRANCH

VE 763 358, Vernon, LA

Built 1978 Load: 11.3 t ADT: 4,500

LOOKOUT ROAD

Fair

Over: BEAVER POND

VE861314, Vernon, LA

Built 1978 Load: 11.7 t ADT: 312

LOOKOUT ROAD

Fair

Over: DRAKES CREEK

VE 851 313, Vernon, LA

Built 1978 Load: 11.7 t ADT: 312

LOOKOUT ROAD

Fair

Over: WHISKEY CHITTO CREEK

VE921306, Vernon, LA

Built 1978 Load: 12.3 t ADT: 336

LOUISIANA AVENUE

Fair

Over: BAYOU ZOURIE BRANCH

VE 757 360, Vernon, LA

Built 1978 Load: 13.0 t ADT: 4,500

LOOKOUT ROAD

Fair

Over: BIRDS CREEK

VE 949 320, Vernon, LA

Built 1976 Load: 13.3 t ADT: 336

FDR 422

Fair

Over: HURRICANE BRANCH

5.2 M. NE. OF ROSEPIN, Vernon, LA

Built 1970 Load: 13.6 t ADT: 50

LOOKOUT ROAD

Fair

Over: WEST FORK SIXMILE CREEK

VE996339, Vernon, LA

Built 1976 Load: 13.6 t ADT: 100

450 FDR

Fair

Over: BLACK CREEK BRANCH

8.0 M. E. OF ROSEPINE, Vernon, LA

Built 1970 Load: 13.9 t ADT: 20

450 FDR

Fair

Over: BRANCH OF BLACK CREEK

7.8M. E. OF ROSEPIN, Vernon, LA

Built 1970 Load: 13.9 t ADT: 20

450 FDR

Fair

Over: BRANCH OF BLACK CREEK

6.2 M. E. OF ROSEPIN, Vernon, LA

Built 1970 Load: 13.9 t ADT: 20

HOLTON-HARRIS RD

Fair

Over: VERNON LAKE

1.89 M. S. OF JCT LA 111, Vernon, LA

Built 1965 Load: 14.6 t ADT: 180

FDR 400

Fair

Over: TIGHTEYE CREEK

9.5 MI. ENE. OF ROSPINE, Vernon, LA

Built 1982 Load: 14.9 t ADT: 60

GEORGIA AVE

Fair

Over: BUNDICK CREEK

VE799316, Vernon, LA

Built 1978 Load: 14.9 t ADT: 336

FDR 400

Fair

Over: CREEK

6.2 M. ENE. OF ROSEP, Vernon, LA

Built 1970 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 110

FDR 400

Fair

Over: BIG BOX BRANCH

8.0 M. W. OF CRAVENS, Vernon, LA

Built 1970 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 110

WEST BOUNDARY RD

Fair

Over: HURRICANE BRANCH

0.5 M. N. OF BAILEY RD., Vernon, LA

Built 1970 Load: 16.5 t ADT: 130

TOWER RD

Fair

Over: MAPLE BRANCH

0.60 M. N. OF LA 10, Vernon, LA

Built 1970 Load: 16.5 t ADT: 350

LOOKOUT ROAD

Fair

Over: WHISKEY CHITTO CREEK

VE 923 307, Vernon, LA

Built 1978 Load: 16.5 t ADT: 336

FDR 400

Fair

Over: DRAKE CREEK

5.1 M. WNW. OF CRAVE, Vernon, LA

Built 1970 Load: 16.8 t ADT: 30

LA0008

Fair

Over: PARMER CREEK

3.4 MI EAST OF LA 469, Vernon, LA

Built 1956 Load: 17.1 t ADT: 1,700

422 FDR

Fair

Over: BUNDKICK CREEK TRIB.

6.3 M. NE. OF ROSEPIN, Vernon, LA

Built 1970 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 60

422 FDR

Fair

Over: BUNDICK CREEK TRIB

6.4 M. NE. OF ROSEPIN, Vernon, LA

Built 1970 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 60

422 FDR

Fair

Over: BUNDICK CREEK

6.5 M. NE. OF ROSEPIN, Vernon, LA

Built 1970 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 60

471 FDR

Fair

Over: TIGHTEYE CREEK

7.5 M. WNW. OF CRAVE, Vernon, LA

Built 1970 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 80

DALLAS STREET

Fair

Over: WHISKEY CHITTO CREEK

VE 844 412, Vernon, LA

Built 1978 Load: 18.5 t ADT: 20

LA0117

Fair

Over: COMRADE CREEK

7.14 MI. NORTH OF LA 111, Vernon, LA

Built 1962 Load: 20.7 t ADT: 1,513

LA0117

Fair

Over: CALCASIEU RIVER

3.26 MI. NORTH OF LA 111, Vernon, LA

Built 1962 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 1,513

LA0465

Fair

Over: BALL BRANCH

5.25 MI EAST OF LA 8, Vernon, LA

Built 1981 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 500

MONTICELLO ST

Fair

Over: WHISKEY CHITTO CREEK

VE 844 414, Vernon, LA

Built 1978 Load: 23.0 t ADT: 10

LA1211

Fair

Over: MILL CREEK

4.31 MILES WEST OF US 171, Vernon, LA

Built 1958 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 2,663

BAILEY RD

Fair

Over: CLEAR BRANCH

0.36 MILES WEST OF LA 10, Vernon, LA

Built 1981 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 110

GEORGIA AVE

Fair

Over: BUNDICK CREEK

VE799315, Vernon, LA

Built 1978 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 336

BAILEY RD

Fair

Over: BUNDICK CREEK

2.44 MILES EAST OF US 171, Vernon, LA

Built 1984 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 150

SARTOR ST

Fair

Over: CASTOR BAYOU TRIB.

0.29 M. S. OF BOONE ST, Vernon, LA

Built 1975 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 80

NONA ST

Fair

Over: CASTOR BAYOU TRIB.

0.58 MILES WEST OF US 171, Vernon, LA

Built 1977 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 2,000

CYPRESS CHURCH RD

Fair

Over: CYPRESS CREEK

5.68 MI. SE OF LA 464, Vernon, LA

Built 1987 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 130

LA0465

Fair

Over: GORDIE BRANCH

3.87 MI EAST OF LA 8, Vernon, LA

Built 1977 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 500

DAVID MIDKIFF RD

Fair

Over: CLEAR CREEK

1.97 M N OF HARVEY X-ING, Vernon, LA

Built 1984 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 30

BAILEY RD

Fair

Over: LITTLE CLEAR CREEK

2.55 MILES WEST OF LA 10, Vernon, LA

Built 1984 Load: 26.6 t ADT: 610

UNNAMED ROAD

Fair

Over: ODOM CREEK

VE 812 719, Vernon, LA

Built 2005 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 40

LA0008

Fair

Over: SABINE RIVER @ BURR FERR

1.5 MI WEST OF THE WEST I, Vernon, LA

Built 1937 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 1,229

LA0117

Fair

Over: LIBERTY CREEK

1.16 MI. NORTH OF LA 8, Vernon, LA

Built 1954 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 1,513

LA0111

Fair

Over: BAYOU ANACOCO

14.0 MI SOUTH OF LA 8, Vernon, LA

Built 1981 Load: 31.8 t ADT: 1,480

DRAKES FORK RD

Fair

Over: HORSE BRANCH

4.0 MILES SOUTH OF LA 10, Vernon, LA

Built 1984 Load: 32.1 t ADT: 190
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.