County profile · official public datasets

Berrien County, MI

272 public highway bridges tracked in the FHWA National Bridge Inventory: 27.6% rated Good, 66.5% Fair, 5.9% Poor.

272
Public bridges
27.6%
Good condition
5.9%
Poor condition

The verdict

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

Berrien County posts a top-quartile lowest Poor-condition share among rated counties in the state across mid-size county bridge inventory.

Top 18%
lowest Poor share in state
5.9%
Poor-condition share
272
public highway bridges
1979
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.

Berrien County Bridge Snapshot

According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory, Berrien County ranks #15 of 83 Michigan counties with at least 5 public highway bridges on Poor-condition share (lower share ranks better; currently 5.9%). Berrien County, Michigan contains 272 public highway bridges. Roughly 27.6% are rated “Good,” 66.5% “Fair,” and 5.9% “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

272

Public highway bridges in Berrien County

Good condition

27.6%

75 of 272 rated 7-9

Fair condition

66.5%

181 of 272 rated 5-6

Poor condition

5.9%

16 of 272 rated 4 or below

In-state Poor-share rank

#15 of 83

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

Condition distribution

Share of 272 NBI-tracked bridges by lowest applicable component rating.

Good
27.6% (75)
Fair
66.5% (181)
Poor
5.9% (16)

Berrien County's Poor-condition bridges carry 28,696 vehicle crossings a day

That is 1.6% of the county's reported daily bridge traffic on 5.9% of its bridges: Poor-condition structures carry less traffic than their share of the inventory. Each Poor bridge averages 1,794 crossings a day against 5,504 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 272 of 272 bridges in this county that report an average daily traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.

44.9% of Berrien County's bridges have passed the 50-year mark

122 of the 272 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 27.6% 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 52.4% of the county's Poor-condition bridge traffic

I-94 WB over M-140, built 1960, carries 15,032 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 16-bridge count understates how much of the daily burden sits on a single crossing.

Share is of the 28,696 daily crossings on Poor-rated bridges that report a traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.

When Berrien County's bridges were built

272 bridges with a recorded construction year, grouped by decade

bridges

What this shows Construction peaked in the 1960s, when 76 of the county's bridges still in the inventory were built, which is 27.9% of those with a recorded year. That cohort is now 55 to 64 years old in the 2024 inventory. Its average build year (1979) matches the Michigan average (1976).

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

How Berrien County compares with Michigan's closest counties by inventory size

The 5 Michigan counties nearest Berrien County in number of bridges, with their condition splits. Its 5.9% Poor share is the 2nd-lowest of these 6. Its average build year of 1979 against a peer-group mean of 1977 is in line with the group.

Showing the 5 closest of 82 Michigan counties eligible for comparison.

Bridge inventory size and condition shares for Berrien County and the 5 Michigan counties closest to it in inventory size
County Bridges Poor
Monroe County 297 15.5%
Berrien County (this page) 272 5.9%
Washtenaw County 262 20.2%
Ottawa County 254 6.3%
Allegan County 244 16.8%
Tuscola County 242 5%

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

Similar inventory size

Nearest county inventories outside MI (272 bridges here).

Similar average build year

Nearest mean year-built outside MI (1979 here).

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

All 272 Good 75 Fair 181 Poor 16

Good-condition bridges (75)

JOHNS BEERS ROAD

Good

Over: HICKORY CREEK

VILLAGE OF STEVENSVILLE, Berrien, MI

Built 1977 Load: 11.0 t ADT: 9,023

EIGHTH STREET

Good

Over: OX CREEK

1 BLK S OF KLOCK RD, Berrien, MI

Built 2002 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 6,500

BROWNTOWN ROAD

Good

Over: CLYMER COUNTY DRAIN

LAKE TWP SEC 35, Berrien, MI

Built 1999 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 360

I-94 WB

Good

Over: CSX RR

1.0 MI N OF HARBERT, Berrien, MI

Built 2003 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 18,325

KAISER ROAD

Good

Over: GALIEN RIVER

1 MI S OF NEW TROY, Berrien, MI

Built 1990 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 149

PIPESTONE ROAD

Good

Over: US-31

6.4 MI N OF OLD US-31, Berrien, MI

Built 2001 Load: 31.1 t ADT: 8,380

NORTH SHORE DRIVE

Good

Over: PAW PAW RIVER

7 BLKS N OF MAIN ST, Berrien, MI

Built 2006 Load: 31.4 t ADT: 2,500

NAOMI ROAD

Good

Over: US-31

5.7 MI N OF OLD US-31, Berrien, MI

Built 2001 Load: 31.4 t ADT: 3,200

I-94 WB

Good

Over: CSX RR SPUR (ABN)

0.2 MI N OF BRIDGEMAN, Berrien, MI

Built 1961 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 22,675

SHAWNEE ROAD

Good

Over: FOWLER DRAIN

0.5 MI S OF BARODA, Berrien, MI

Built 2000 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 3,179

SHAWNEE ROAD

Good

Over: HICKORY CREEK

0.6 MI SE OF BARODA, Berrien, MI

Built 2000 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 3,179

BASSWOOD ROAD

Good

Over: DEER CREEK

0.3 MILES S OF US-12, Berrien, MI

Built 1989 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 917

BOYLE LAKE ROAD

Good

Over: WEAVER & HARROFF DRAIN

5 MI E OF NEW TROY, Berrien, MI

Built 2009 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 165

HOLDEN ROAD

Good

Over: GALIEN RIVER

1 MI NW OF GALIEN, Berrien, MI

Built 2008 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 17

PAW PAW LAKE ROAD

Good

Over: DERBY DRAIN

COLOMA TWP SEC 10-11, Berrien, MI

Built 2000 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,172

LINCO ROAD

Good

Over: KEELO CREEK

2 MI S OF STEVENSVILLE, Berrien, MI

Built 2009 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,192

DEANS HILL ROAD

Good

Over: LOVE CREEK

0.5 NE OF OLD US-31, Berrien, MI

Built 2009 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 4,140

JOHN BEERS RD

Good

Over: BIG MEADOW DRAIN

0.25 MI E OF HOLLYWOOD RD, Berrien, MI

Built 2001 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 4,700

HINCHMAN ROAD

Good

Over: HICKORY CREEK

0.75 MI N OF BARODA, Berrien, MI

Built 1985 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 700

WIL-O-PAW ROAD

Good

Over: PAW PAW LAKE CHANNEL

W END PAW PAW LAKE, Berrien, MI

Built 1994 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 126

WARREN WOODS ROAD

Good

Over: GALIEN RIVER

2.0 MI S OF NEW TROY, Berrien, MI

Built 1984 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 467

HILLANDALE ROAD

Good

Over: PIPESTONE CREEK

2.0 MI N E OF SODUS, Berrien, MI

Built 1985 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 664

PAW PAW LAKE ROAD

Good

Over: PAW PAW RIVER

E CITY LIMIT COLOMA, Berrien, MI

Built 2002 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 11,555

FOREST LAWN ROAD

Good

Over: S BR GALIEN RIVER

4.5 MI SE OF NEW BUFFALO, Berrien, MI

Built 1991 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 479

THREE OAKS ROAD

Good

Over: GALIEN RIVER

2.6 MI N OF THREE OAKS, Berrien, MI

Built 1992 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 3,222

I-94 EB

Good

Over: CSX RR

1.0 MI N OF HARBERT, Berrien, MI

Built 2003 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 18,325

MARTIN ROAD

Good

Over: SPRING CREEK

4 MI SW OF THREE OAKS, Berrien, MI

Built 1994 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 196

DAN SMITH ROAD

Good

Over: MILL CREEK

2 MI SW OF WATERVLIET, Berrien, MI

Built 1992 Load: 37.9 t ADT: 891

KRUGER ROAD

Good

Over: S BR OF GALIEN RIVER

2 MI NE OF NEW BUFFALO, Berrien, MI

Built 1983 Load: 39.2 t ADT: 155

M-51

Good

Over: MCKINZIE CREEK

AT CASS CO LINE, Berrien, MI

Built 2009 Load: 40.2 t ADT: 6,654

M-63

Good

Over: I-196

3.0 MI N OF RIVERSIDE, Berrien, MI

Built 2019 Load: 40.2 t ADT: 2,635

BRITAIN AVE

Good

Over: US-31 (RELOC)

0.5 MI E OF I-94/US-31, Berrien, MI

Built 2021 Load: 40.2 t ADT: 660

US-31

Good

Over: LEMON CREEK

1.5 MI N OF SNOW ROAD, Berrien, MI

Built 1990 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 11,984

BASSWOOD ROAD

Good

Over: SPRING CREEK

5.0 MI SW OF THREE OAKS, Berrien, MI

Built 1991 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 379

M-63

Good

Over: HICKORY CREEK

0.5 MI S OF ST JOSEPH, Berrien, MI

Built 1969 Load: 41.1 t ADT: 15,600

N WATERVLIET ROAD

Good

Over: PAW PAW LAKE OUTLET

1.0 MI N OF WATERVLIET, Berrien, MI

Built 2008 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 800

LAKESIDE ROAD

Good

Over: GALIEN RIVER

1.75 MI S OF LAKESIDE, Berrien, MI

Built 1982 Load: 41.8 t ADT: 653

I-94 EB

Good

Over: HICKORY CREEK

2.1 MI NE OF STEVENSVILLE, Berrien, MI

Built 2015 Load: 42.8 t ADT: 22,145

I-94 WB

Good

Over: HICKORY CREEK

2.1 MI NE OF STEVENSVILLE, Berrien, MI

Built 2013 Load: 42.8 t ADT: 22,145

ALEXANDER STREET

Good

Over: MCCOY CREEK MILL RACE

CITY OF BUCHANAN, Berrien, MI

Built 1998 Load: 42.8 t ADT: 100

US-31 & I-94BL

Good

Over: I-94

I-94/US-31 INTERCHANGE, Berrien, MI

Built 2021 Load: 43.4 t ADT: 9,100

PARK ROAD

Good

Over: PIPESTONE CREEK

2.5 MI S E OF SODUS, Berrien, MI

Built 1987 Load: 44.1 t ADT: 268

NORTH MAPLE DRIVE

Good

Over: PAW PAW LAKE CHANNEL

1 MI NE OF COLOMA, Berrien, MI

Built 2003 Load: 44.1 t ADT: 65

KRUGER ROAD

Good

Over: DOWLING CREEK

3 MI NE OF THREE OAKS, Berrien, MI

Built 2009 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 257

RED ARROW HIGHWAY

Good

Over: BLUE CREEK

1.0 MI N E BENTON HARBOR, Berrien, MI

Built 1993 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 1,505

HILL AVENUE

Good

Over: MILL CREEK

3 MI S OF WATERVLIET, Berrien, MI

Built 2023 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 32

AVERY RD (MILL)

Good

Over: GALIEN RIVER

0.2 MI W OF NEW TROY, Berrien, MI

Built 1998 Load: 46.7 t ADT: 645

SODUS PARKWAY

Good

Over: PIPESTONE CREEK

SODUS TWP SEC 3, Berrien, MI

Built 2002 Load: 47.6 t ADT: 8,632

WASHINGTON AVE

Good

Over: HICKORY CREEK

1 MI S ST JOSEPH, Berrien, MI

Built 1992 Load: 48.6 t ADT: 5,479

I-94 EB

Good

Over: GALIEN RIVER

2.5 MI NE OF NEW BUFFALO, Berrien, MI

Built 2008 Load: 49.6 t ADT: 18,879

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.