Total bridges
272
Public highway bridges in Berrien County
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.
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
- pre-1900 1
Built before 1900
1 bridges
- 1900s 1
1900–1909
1 bridges
- 1910s 1
1910–1919
1 bridges
- 1920s 4
1920–1929
4 bridges
- 1930s 6
1930–1939
6 bridges
- 1940s 5
1940–1949
5 bridges
- 1950s 20
1950–1959
20 bridges
- 1960s
1960–1969
76 bridges
- 1970s 26
1970–1979
26 bridges
- 1980s 28
1980–1989
28 bridges
- 1990s
1990–1999
38 bridges
- 2000s
2000–2009
46 bridges
- 2010s 13
2010–2019
13 bridges
- 2020s 7
2020–2029
7 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).
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.
| County | Bridges | Good | Fair | Poor | Avg. built |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monroe County | 297 | 30% | 54.5% | 15.5% | 1974 |
| Berrien County (this page) | 272 | 27.6% | 66.5% | 5.9% | 1979 |
| Washtenaw County | 262 | 23.3% | 56.5% | 20.2% | 1975 |
| Ottawa County | 254 | 40.9% | 52.8% | 6.3% | 1977 |
| Allegan County | 244 | 24.2% | 59% | 16.8% | 1978 |
| Tuscola County | 242 | 33.9% | 61.2% | 5% | 1980 |
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).
- Rock Island County, IL · 272 bridges
- Bolivar County, MS · 272 bridges
- Morton County, ND · 272 bridges
- Blaine County, OK · 272 bridges
Similar average build year
Nearest mean year-built outside MI (1979 here).
- Pima County, AZ · avg 1979 · 1,150 bridges
- Jefferson County, KY · avg 1979 · 662 bridges
- Spartanburg County, SC · avg 1979 · 638 bridges
- McPherson County, KS · avg 1979 · 586 bridges
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release. Peers floor at 10 bridges so stub inventories cannot own the match.
All bridges (272)
GARDNER ROAD
FairOver: E BR GALIEN RIVER
4 MI E OF NEW TROY, Berrien, MI
Built 1990 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 296
US-31 NB
FairOver: MATTHEW ROAD
5.6 MI N OF US-12, Berrien, MI
Built 1998 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 7,859
US-31 SB
FairOver: MATTHEW ROAD
5.6 MI N OF US-12, Berrien, MI
Built 1998 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 7,859
TABOR ROAD
FairOver: US-31
2.6 MI N OF OLD US-31, Berrien, MI
Built 1999 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 6,070
US-31 NB
FairOver: PIPESTONE CREEK
7.2 MI N OF OLD US-31, Berrien, MI
Built 2002 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 3,701
CEMETERY DRIVE
FairOver: OX CREEK
CRYSTAL SPRINGS CEMETERY, Berrien, MI
Built 1915 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 50
BROWNTOWN ROAD
FairOver: I-94
2.0 MI S OF BRIDGEMAN, Berrien, MI
Built 1961 Load: 33.0 t ADT: 627
EMPIRE ROAD
FairOver: I-94
1.7 MI E OF BENTON HARBOR, Berrien, MI
Built 1960 Load: 33.0 t ADT: 2,887
ISLAND COURT
FairOver: PAW PAW LAKE CHANNEL
SW PART PAW PAW LAKE, Berrien, MI
Built 1993 Load: 33.0 t ADT: 78
LAKESIDE ROAD
FairOver: I-94
1.3 MI S OF LAKESIDE, Berrien, MI
Built 1962 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 566
BOYER ROAD
FairOver: I-94
2.8 MI E OF I-196, Berrien, MI
Built 1960 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 150
MARTIN ROAD
FairOver: SPRING CREEK
2 MI S OF THREE OAKS, Berrien, MI
Built 1980 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 345
PAW PAW AVENUE
FairOver: PAW PAW RIVER
0.5 MI N TERRITORIAL RD, Berrien, MI
Built 1927 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 4,620
NAPIER AVE
FairOver: US-31
9.0 MI N OF OLD US-31, Berrien, MI
Built 2000 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 12,972
M-140
FairOver: PIPESTONE CREEK
8.9 MI S OF WATERVLIET, Berrien, MI
Built 1953 Load: 33.7 t ADT: 3,222
CENTRAL AVE
FairOver: I-196
2.5 MI N OF RIVERSIDE, Berrien, MI
Built 1962 Load: 33.7 t ADT: 290
WITT ROAD
FairOver: SPRING CREEK
3.5 MI SW OF THREE OAKS, Berrien, MI
Built 1992 Load: 33.7 t ADT: 164
HOLDEN ROAD
FairOver: TROY MEADOW OUTLET
3 MI NE OF NEW TROY, Berrien, MI
Built 1988 Load: 33.7 t ADT: 180
MI & IN ELEC ROAD
FairOver: I-94
7.7 MI NE OF BRIDGEMAN, Berrien, MI
Built 1969 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 70
GLENLORD ROAD
FairOver: I-94
2.2 MI NE OF STEVENSVILLE, Berrien, MI
Built 1960 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 8,000
COUNTY LINE ROAD
FairOver: I-94
8.6 MI E OF I-196, Berrien, MI
Built 1960 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 265
NAOMI ROAD
FairOver: PIPESTONE CREEK
2.0 MI E OF SODUS, Berrien, MI
Built 1980 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 1,647
I-94 WB
FairOver: HENNESSY ROAD
5.6 MI E OF I-196, Berrien, MI
Built 1960 Load: 34.3 t ADT: 14,416
PARK STREET
FairOver: CSX RAILROAD
2 BLKS W OF MAIN ST, Berrien, MI
Built 1970 Load: 34.3 t ADT: 3,000
PARK ROAD
FairOver: I-94
3.5 MI E OF I-196, Berrien, MI
Built 1960 Load: 34.7 t ADT: 648
M-139
FairOver: ST JOSEPH RIVER
IN CITY OF NILES, Berrien, MI
Built 2015 Load: 34.7 t ADT: 9,950
M-139
FairOver: CONRAIL (ABN) & OX CREEK
SE LTS OF BENTON HARBOR, Berrien, MI
Built 1936 Load: 34.7 t ADT: 10,503
US-12 EB
FairOver: M-51
0.8 MI S OF NILES, Berrien, MI
Built 1955 Load: 34.7 t ADT: 7,473
M-239 LAPORTE ROAD
FairOver: I-94
0.8 MI SE OF NEW BUFFALO, Berrien, MI
Built 1963 Load: 35.0 t ADT: 6,400
I-94 EB
FairOver: HENNESSY ROAD
5.6 MI E OF I-196, Berrien, MI
Built 1960 Load: 35.0 t ADT: 14,416
M-139
FairOver: ST JOSEPH RIVER
IN BERRIEN SPRINGS, Berrien, MI
Built 1994 Load: 35.0 t ADT: 11,806
US-31 NB
FairOver: ST JOSEPH RIVER
2.0 MI W OF NILES, Berrien, MI
Built 1984 Load: 35.0 t ADT: 7,675
US-12
FairOver: ST JOSEPH RIVER
0.8 MI S OF NILES, Berrien, MI
Built 1954 Load: 35.3 t ADT: 11,300
THREE OAKS ROAD
FairOver: CHAMBERLAIN DRAIN
1.0 MI S OF THREE OAKS, Berrien, MI
Built 1988 Load: 35.3 t ADT: 1,160
MINNICH ROAD
FairOver: GALIEN RIVER
2 MI W OF NEW TROY, Berrien, MI
Built 1960 Load: 35.3 t ADT: 307
EAST ROAD
FairOver: I-94
1.6 MI E OF LAKESIDE, Berrien, MI
Built 1961 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 210
I-94 EB
FairOver: I-94 BL (LAKESHORE DR)
1.2 MI N OF STEVENSVILLE, Berrien, MI
Built 1960 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 22,145
US-12 WB
FairOver: M-51
0.8 MI S OF NILES, Berrien, MI
Built 1955 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 7,473
WALTON ROAD
FairOver: ST JOSEPH RIVER
E CITY LIMIT BUCHANAN, Berrien, MI
Built 1966 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 3,196
OXBOW ROAD
FairOver: US-31
4.2 MI N OF OLD US-31, Berrien, MI
Built 1999 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 2,800
I-94 BL (MAIN ST)
FairOver: MORRISON CHNL INDUS AVE
0.2 MI W OF BICENTENNIAL, Berrien, MI
Built 1976 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 9,975
ST JOSEPH STREET
FairOver: MILL CREEK
780 FT EAST OF MAIN ST, Berrien, MI
Built 1992 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 7,487
US-31 SB
FairOver: ST JOSEPH RIVER
2.0 MI W OF NILES, Berrien, MI
Built 1984 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 7,675
I-196 NB
FairOver: PAW PAW RIVER
5.0 MI NE BENTON HARBOR, Berrien, MI
Built 1963 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 11,100
I-196 SB
FairOver: PAW PAW RIVER
5.0 MI NE BENTON HARBOR, Berrien, MI
Built 1963 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 14,900
US-31 SB
FairOver: PIPESTONE CREEK
7.2 MI N OF OLD US-31, Berrien, MI
Built 2000 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 3,701
US-31 SB
FairOver: ST JOSEPH RIVER
5.5 MI SW OF BERRIEN SPRG, Berrien, MI
Built 1990 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 7,859
US-31 BR (WALTON)
FairOver: US-31
3.5 MI N OF US-12, Berrien, MI
Built 1995 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 15,718
LAKE CHAPIN ROAD
FairOver: US-31
5.3 MI SW OF BERRIEN SPRG, Berrien, MI
Built 1995 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 500
WARREN WOODS ROAD
FairOver: I-94
1.0 MI SE OF LAKESIDE, Berrien, MI
Built 1962 Load: 37.9 t ADT: 1,177
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.