Total bridges
80
Public highway bridges in Mecosta County
County profile · official public datasets
Mecosta County, MI
80 public highway bridges tracked in the FHWA National Bridge Inventory: 36.3% rated Good, 58.8% Fair, 5% Poor.
- 80
- Public bridges
- 36.3%
- Good condition
- 5%
- Poor condition
The verdict
According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory.
Mecosta County pairs a top-quartile lowest Poor-condition share among rated counties in the state with a newer average build year than the state inventory.
- Top 14%
- lowest Poor share in state
- 5%
- Poor-condition share
- 80
- public highway bridges
- 1982
- 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.
Mecosta County Bridge Snapshot
According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory, Mecosta County ranks #12 of 83 Michigan counties with at least 5 public highway bridges on Poor-condition share (lower share ranks better; currently 5%). Mecosta County, Michigan contains 80 public highway bridges. Roughly 36.3% are rated “Good,” 58.8% “Fair,” and 5% “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
36.3%
29 of 80 rated 7-9
Fair condition
58.8%
47 of 80 rated 5-6
Poor condition
5%
4 of 80 rated 4 or below
In-state Poor-share rank
#12 of 83
Among Michigan counties with 5+ bridges, lower share ranks better
Condition distribution
Share of 80 NBI-tracked bridges by lowest applicable component rating.
Good 36.3% (29)
Fair 58.8% (47)
Poor 5% (4)
Mecosta County's Poor-condition bridges carry 1,558 vehicle crossings a day
That is 0.4% of the county's reported daily bridge traffic on 5% of its bridges: Poor-condition structures carry less traffic than their share of the inventory. Each Poor bridge averages 390 crossings a day against 3,482 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 80 of 80 bridges in this county that report an average daily traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
18.8% of Mecosta County's bridges have passed the 50-year mark
15 of the 80 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 36.3% 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 64.4% of the county's Poor-condition bridge traffic
22 MILE ROAD over PARIS CREEK, built 1970, carries 1,004 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 4-bridge count understates how much of the daily burden sits on a single crossing.
Share is of the 1,558 daily crossings on Poor-rated bridges that report a traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
When Mecosta County's bridges were built
80 bridges with a recorded construction year, grouped by decade
- 1900s 1
1900–1909
1 bridges
- 1920s 4
1920–1929
4 bridges
- 1940s 1
1940–1949
1 bridges
- 1950s 2
1950–1959
2 bridges
- 1960s 3
1960–1969
3 bridges
- 1970s
1970–1979
21 bridges
- 1980s
1980–1989
24 bridges
- 1990s 8
1990–1999
8 bridges
- 2000s 6
2000–2009
6 bridges
- 2010s 9
2010–2019
9 bridges
- 2020s 1
2020–2029
1 bridges
What this shows Construction peaked in the 1980s, when 24 of the county's bridges still in the inventory were built, which is 30% of those with a recorded year. That cohort is now 35 to 44 years old in the 2024 inventory. Its average build year is 1982, 6 years newer than the Michigan average of 1976.
How Mecosta County compares with Michigan's closest counties by inventory size
The 5 Michigan counties nearest Mecosta County in number of bridges, with their condition splits. Its 5% Poor share is the 2nd-lowest of these 6. Its average build year of 1982 against a peer-group mean of 1977 is 5 years newer.
Showing the 5 closest of 82 Michigan counties eligible for comparison.
| County | Bridges | Good | Fair | Poor | Avg. built |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta County | 84 | 38.1% | 60.7% | 1.2% | 1974 |
| Arenac County | 80 | 25% | 56.3% | 18.8% | 1970 |
| Mecosta County (this page) | 80 | 36.3% | 58.8% | 5% | 1982 |
| Cheboygan County | 73 | 21.9% | 58.9% | 19.2% | 1975 |
| Barry County | 69 | 26.1% | 49.3% | 24.6% | 1977 |
| Baraga County | 68 | 61.8% | 30.9% | 7.4% | 1988 |
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 Mecosta 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 Mecosta County, both outside Michigan so the neighborhoods are not the same-state size table above.
Similar inventory size
Nearest county inventories outside MI (80 bridges here).
- Moffat County, CO · 80 bridges
- Burke County, GA · 80 bridges
- Gooding County, ID · 80 bridges
- Madison County, ID · 80 bridges
Similar average build year
Nearest mean year-built outside MI (1982 here).
- Oklahoma County, OK · avg 1982 · 1,216 bridges
- Jackson County, MO · avg 1982 · 930 bridges
- Milwaukee County, WI · avg 1982 · 893 bridges
- Champaign County, IL · avg 1982 · 727 bridges
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release. Peers floor at 10 bridges so stub inventories cannot own the match.
All bridges (80)
12 MILE ROAD
FairOver: US-131 SB
2 MI S OF BIG RAPIDS, Mecosta, MI
Built 1981 Load: 13.0 t ADT: 330
WOODWARD ROAD
FairOver: US-131
1.0 MI W OF BIG RAPIDS, Mecosta, MI
Built 1981 Load: 13.0 t ADT: 400
12 MILE ROAD
FairOver: US-131 NB
2 MI S OF BIG RAPIDS, Mecosta, MI
Built 1981 Load: 13.6 t ADT: 330
19 MILE ROAD
FairOver: W BRANCH CHIPPEWA RIVER
0.9 MI W OF M-66, Mecosta, MI
Built 1974 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 438
19 MILE ROAD
FairOver: CHIPPEWA RIVER
2.2 MI E OF M-66, Mecosta, MI
Built 1974 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 224
10TH AVE
FairOver: CHIPPEWA RIVER
0.3 MI S OF 20 MILE ROAD, Mecosta, MI
Built 1975 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 223
22 MILE RD
FairOver: N BR CHIPPEWA RIVER
1.0 MI E OF M-66, Mecosta, MI
Built 1900 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 67
7 MILE ROAD
FairOver: LITTLE MUSKEGON RIVER
0.2 MI E OF 100TH AVE, Mecosta, MI
Built 1990 Load: 29.8 t ADT: 1,511
21 MILE ROAD
FairOver: US-131
3 MI S OF OSCEOLA CO LINE, Mecosta, MI
Built 1984 Load: 31.4 t ADT: 150
35TH AVENUE
FairOver: W BR CHIPPEWA RIVER
0.8 MI S OF 20 MILE RD, Mecosta, MI
Built 1996 Load: 31.4 t ADT: 55
BUCHANAN RD
FairOver: E BR LITTLE MUSKEGON RIV
0.1 MI E OF 90TH AVE, Mecosta, MI
Built 2000 Load: 32.1 t ADT: 647
180TH AVENUE
FairOver: RYAN CREEK
0.33 MI N OF 16 MILE ROAD, Mecosta, MI
Built 1990 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 258
155TH AVE
FairOver: LITTLE MUSKEGON RIVER
2.5 MI N OF S COUNTY LINE, Mecosta, MI
Built 1975 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 341
MARION AVE
FairOver: CHIPPEWA RIVER
0.4 E OF M-66, Mecosta, MI
Built 1989 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 450
US-131 NB
FairOver: 3 MILE ROAD
WEST OF MORLEY, Mecosta, MI
Built 1979 Load: 33.7 t ADT: 20,300
9 MILE ROAD
FairOver: E BR LITTLE MUSKEGON RIV
6 MILES WEST OF REMUS, Mecosta, MI
Built 2007 Load: 33.7 t ADT: 2,287
16 MILE ROAD
FairOver: RYAN CREEK
0 5 MI E OF BIG RAPIDS, Mecosta, MI
Built 1968 Load: 34.9 t ADT: 4,542
US-131 SB
FairOver: 22 MI RD & PARIS CREEK
6.0 M N OF BIG RAPIDS, Mecosta, MI
Built 1984 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 6,322
US-131 NB
FairOver: 22 MI RD & PARIS CREEK
6.0 M N OF BIG RAPIDS, Mecosta, MI
Built 1984 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 6,322
US-131 SB
FairOver: MUSKEGON RIVER
5 MI SOUTH BIG RAPIDS, Mecosta, MI
Built 1983 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 18,000
US-131 NB
FairOver: MUSKEGON RIVER
5 MI SOUTH BIG RAPIDS, Mecosta, MI
Built 1982 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 18,000
JEFFERSON ROAD
FairOver: LITTLE MUSKEGON RIVER
EAST OF MORLEY, Mecosta, MI
Built 1969 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 1,300
M-20 (EIGHT MI RD)
FairOver: MUSKEGON RIVER
4 MI W OF STANWOOD, Mecosta, MI
Built 1977 Load: 39.5 t ADT: 3,615
M-20
FairOver: MUSKEGON RIVER
IN BIG RAPIDS(MAPLE ST), Mecosta, MI
Built 1983 Load: 41.1 t ADT: 12,343
US-131(OLD)
FairOver: PARIS CREEK
IN PARIS, Mecosta, MI
Built 1929 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 7,428
US-131(OLD)
FairOver: LITTLE MUSKEGON RIVER
IN MORLEY, Mecosta, MI
Built 1993 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 5,177
US-131 NB
FairOver: LITTLE MUSKEGON RIVER
WEST OF MORLEY, Mecosta, MI
Built 1979 Load: 44.7 t ADT: 20,200
4 MILE ROAD
FairOver: US 131
3 MILES NW OF MORLEY, Mecosta, MI
Built 1979 Load: 45.0 t ADT: 110
M-20
FairOver: US-131 NB
1.0 MI W OF BIG RAPIDS, Mecosta, MI
Built 1981 Load: 45.0 t ADT: 15,942
HOOVER ROAD
FairOver: MUSKEGON RIVER
AT PARIS, Mecosta, MI
Built 1978 Load: 45.0 t ADT: 1,955
17 MILE RD
FairOver: US-131 SB
1.5 MI W OF BIG RAPIDS, Mecosta, MI
Built 1982 Load: 48.9 t ADT: 250
US-131 BL 19 MI RD
FairOver: US-131 SB
2 MI NW OF BIG RAPIDS, Mecosta, MI
Built 1982 Load: 49.6 t ADT: 4,635
US-131 SB
FairOver: LITTLE MUSKEGON RIVER
WEST OF MORLEY, Mecosta, MI
Built 1979 Load: 50.5 t ADT: 20,200
US-131 NB
FairOver: SIX MILE ROAD
2.5 MI SW OF STANWOOD, Mecosta, MI
Built 1979 Load: 51.5 t ADT: 15,218
M-66
FairOver: N BR CHIPPEWA RIVER
IN BARRYTON, Mecosta, MI
Built 1927 Load: 51.5 t ADT: 2,357
US-131 SB
FairOver: SIX MILE ROAD
2.5 MI SW OF STANWOOD, Mecosta, MI
Built 1979 Load: 51.8 t ADT: 15,218
M-20
FairOver: US-131 SB
1.0 MI W OF BIG RAPIDS, Mecosta, MI
Built 1981 Load: 52.2 t ADT: 15,942
US-131 SB
FairOver: 11 MILE ROAD
4.0 MI S OF BIG RAPIDS, Mecosta, MI
Built 1981 Load: 52.8 t ADT: 7,789
US-131 NB
FairOver: 11 MILE ROAD
4.0 MI S OF BIG RAPIDS, Mecosta, MI
Built 1981 Load: 53.1 t ADT: 7,789
US-131 BL 19 MI RD
FairOver: US-131 NB
2 MI NW OF BIG RAPIDS, Mecosta, MI
Built 1982 Load: 53.5 t ADT: 4,635
US-131 SB
FairOver: M-20 (8 MILE ROAD)
WEST OF STANWOOD, Mecosta, MI
Built 1979 Load: 54.8 t ADT: 10,938
M-66
FairOver: N BR CHIPPEWA RIVER
1.0 MI N OF BARRYTON, Mecosta, MI
Built 1927 Load: 55.7 t ADT: 2,294
US-131 SB
FairOver: 13 MILE ROAD
1.5 MI S OF BIG RAPIDS, Mecosta, MI
Built 1981 Load: 56.7 t ADT: 7,789
US-131 NB
FairOver: M-20 (8 MILE ROAD)
WEST OF STANWOOD, Mecosta, MI
Built 1979 Load: 59.0 t ADT: 10,938
M-66
FairOver: W BR CHIPPEWA RIVER
IN BARRYTON, Mecosta, MI
Built 1927 Load: 66.4 t ADT: 3,557
5 MILE ROAD
FairOver: LITTLE MUSKEGON RIVER
ALTONA, Mecosta, MI
Built 1961 Load: 74.5 t ADT: 1,757
US-131 BL
FairOver: MITCHELL CREEK
IN BIG RAPIDS, Mecosta, MI
Built 1948 Load: 80.4 t ADT: 14,351
PINE STREET
GoodOver: MITCHELL CREEK
CITY OF BIG RAPIDS, Mecosta, MI
Built 1998 Load: 21.4 t ADT: 4,550
TWO MILE RD 9TH
GoodOver: BIG CREEK
VILLAGE OF MORLEY, Mecosta, MI
Built 2010 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 30
HOOVER RD
GoodOver: N BR CHIPPEWA RIVER
0.8 MI E OF M-66, Mecosta, MI
Built 2004 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 71
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.