County profile · official public datasets

Madison County, NE

302 public highway bridges tracked in the FHWA National Bridge Inventory: 36.4% rated Good, 55.3% Fair, 8.3% Poor.

302
Public bridges
36.4%
Good condition
8.3%
Poor condition

The verdict

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

Madison County posts a higher-than-median Poor-condition share among rated counties in the state across mid-size county bridge inventory.

55th
of 88 on Poor share
8.3%
Poor-condition share
302
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.

Madison County Bridge Snapshot

According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory, Madison County ranks #55 of 88 Nebraska counties with at least 5 public highway bridges on Poor-condition share (lower share ranks better; currently 8.3%). Madison County, Nebraska contains 302 public highway bridges. Roughly 36.4% are rated “Good,” 55.3% “Fair,” and 8.3% “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

302

Public highway bridges in Madison County

Good condition

36.4%

110 of 302 rated 7-9

Fair condition

55.3%

167 of 302 rated 5-6

Poor condition

8.3%

25 of 302 rated 4 or below

In-state Poor-share rank

#55 of 88

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

Condition distribution

Share of 302 NBI-tracked bridges by lowest applicable component rating.

Good
36.4% (110)
Fair
55.3% (167)
Poor
8.3% (25)

Madison County's Poor-condition bridges carry 12,305 vehicle crossings a day

That is 2.6% of the county's reported daily bridge traffic on 8.3% of its bridges: Poor-condition structures carry less traffic than their share of the inventory. Each Poor bridge averages 492 crossings a day against 2,623 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 302 of 302 bridges in this county that report an average daily traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.

35.8% of Madison County's bridges have passed the 50-year mark

108 of the 302 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 36.4% 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 66.1% of the county's Poor-condition bridge traffic

NORFLK AVE/FAU6020 over N FK ELKHORN RIVER, built 1968, carries 8,130 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 25-bridge count understates how much of the daily burden sits on a single crossing.

Share is of the 12,305 daily crossings on Poor-rated bridges that report a traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.

When Madison County's bridges were built

302 bridges with a recorded construction year, grouped by decade

bridges

What this shows Construction peaked in the 2000s, when 61 of the county's bridges still in the inventory were built, which is 20.2% of those with a recorded year. That cohort is now 15 to 24 years old in the 2024 inventory. Its average build year (1981) matches the Nebraska average (1977).

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

How Madison County compares with Nebraska's closest counties by inventory size

The 5 Nebraska counties nearest Madison County in number of bridges, with their condition splits. Its 8.3% Poor share is the 6th-lowest of these 6. Its average build year of 1981 against a peer-group mean of 1976 is 5 years newer.

Showing the 5 closest of 87 Nebraska counties eligible for comparison.

Bridge inventory size and condition shares for Madison County and the 5 Nebraska counties closest to it in inventory size
County Bridges Poor
Knox County 329 3%
Cedar County 313 6.4%
Saline County 312 8%
Custer County 303 7.9%
Madison County (this page) 302 8.3%
Dawson County 300 3.7%

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

Similar inventory size

Nearest county inventories outside NE (302 bridges here).

Similar average build year

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

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

All 302 Good 110 Fair 167 Poor 25

All bridges (302)

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: STREAM

1.5E OF MADISON, Madison, NE

Built 1935 Load: 2.0 t ADT: 55

543RD AVE

Fair

Over: UNION CREEK N FK

4N 6E OF NEWMAN GROVE, Madison, NE

Built 1960 Load: 3.0 t ADT: 55

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: UNION CREEK

1.2S 1W OF MADISON, Madison, NE

Built 1996 Load: 3.0 t ADT: 70

COLL 7635

Fair

Over: STREAM

7S N32 BOONE CL, Madison, NE

Built 1935 Load: 4.0 t ADT: 75

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: STREAM

1.5N 4E OF MADISON, Madison, NE

Built 1935 Load: 4.0 t ADT: 30

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: DRAINAGE WAY

4N 2.2E OF NEWMAN GROVE, Madison, NE

Built 1957 Load: 4.0 t ADT: 25

838TH RD

Fair

Over: DEER CREEK

3.5S 1E OF MEADOW GROVE, Madison, NE

Built 1983 Load: 5.0 t ADT: 35

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: STREAM

8E OF NEWMAN GROVE, Madison, NE

Built 1935 Load: 5.0 t ADT: 60

FAS 2810

Fair

Over: BATTLE CREEK

EJCT N32/N45 5N .9E, Madison, NE

Built 1962 Load: 5.0 t ADT: 35

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: STREAM

2SW OF MADISON, Madison, NE

Built 1974 Load: 5.0 t ADT: 20

JACKSON STREET

Fair

Over: UNION CREEK

MADISON JACKSON @ N2, Madison, NE

Built 1970 Load: 5.0 t ADT: 385

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: UNION CREEK

1E OF MADISON, Madison, NE

Built 1915 Load: 6.0 t ADT: 20

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: N FK ELKHORN RIVER

1.5SE OF NORFOLK, Madison, NE

Built 1935 Load: 6.0 t ADT: 40

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: STREAM

5S 1.2W OF NORFOLK, Madison, NE

Built 1935 Load: 8.0 t ADT: 50

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: DRAINAGE DITCH

EJCT N32/N45 3S .2W, Madison, NE

Built 1965 Load: 8.0 t ADT: 40

EISENHOWER AVE

Fair

Over: SPRING BRANCH

1N .2E OF NORFOLK, Madison, NE

Built 1976 Load: 9.0 t ADT: 50

827TH RD

Fair

Over: UNION CREEK N FK

4N 5E OF NEWMAN GROVE, Madison, NE

Built 1957 Load: 10.0 t ADT: 60

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: STREAM

6.5S 3E OF BATTLE CREEK, Madison, NE

Built 1954 Load: 10.0 t ADT: 50

840TH RD

Fair

Over: BUFFALO CREEK

1.5S 1W OF MEADOW GROVE, Madison, NE

Built 1975 Load: 11.0 t ADT: 40

FAS 2845

Fair

Over: STREAM

EJCT N32/N45 4E 5.3S, Madison, NE

Built 1999 Load: 11.0 t ADT: 160

545TH AVE

Fair

Over: ELKHORN RIVER TRIB

3N 1W OF BATTLE CREEK, Madison, NE

Built 1970 Load: 11.0 t ADT: 40

839TH RD

Fair

Over: BATTLE CREEK

JCT US275/N121 2.5S .6W, Madison, NE

Built 1970 Load: 12.0 t ADT: 395

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: STREAM

2E OF MADISON, Madison, NE

Built 1935 Load: 12.0 t ADT: 30

N 6TH ST

Fair

Over: TAYLOR CREEK

MADISON N6TH @ UNION, Madison, NE

Built 1976 Load: 12.0 t ADT: 100

NUCOR RD

Fair

Over: HADAR CREEK TRIB

JCT US81/US275B 3N 2.2W, Madison, NE

Built 1935 Load: 14.0 t ADT: 80

839TH RD

Fair

Over: BATTLE CREEK TRIB

JCT US275/N121 2.5S 2.9W, Madison, NE

Built 1965 Load: 15.0 t ADT: 395

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: BATTLE CREEK

7.5S 3W OF BATTLE CREEK, Madison, NE

Built 1935 Load: 15.0 t ADT: 20

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: DRAINAGE WAY

JCT US81/N32 .5W .8S, Madison, NE

Built 1972 Load: 15.0 t ADT: 250

537TH AVE

Fair

Over: BATTLE CREEK

8S 2W OF MEADOW GROVE, Madison, NE

Built 1970 Load: 16.0 t ADT: 40

839TH RD

Fair

Over: BUFFALO CREEK

JCT US275/N45 4.3S 4.2E, Madison, NE

Built 1976 Load: 16.0 t ADT: 115

KOENIGSTEIN AVENUE

Fair

Over: CORPORATION GULCH

NORFOLK KOENIGSTEN @ 14TH, Madison, NE

Built 1950 Load: 16.0 t ADT: 400

838TH RD

Fair

Over: BUFFALO CREEK

3.5S 1W OF MEADOW GROVE, Madison, NE

Built 1975 Load: 17.0 t ADT: 35

543RD AVE

Fair

Over: BATTLE CREEK TRIB

1.5S 3W OF BATTLE CREEK, Madison, NE

Built 1960 Load: 17.0 t ADT: 50

COLL 7644

Fair

Over: BATTLE CREEK

3.5S 1.5W OF BATTLE CREEK, Madison, NE

Built 1972 Load: 17.0 t ADT: 70

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: STREAM

4S 1W MADISON, Madison, NE

Built 1935 Load: 17.0 t ADT: 65

536T AVE

Fair

Over: BATTLE CREEK

8S 3W OF MEADOW GROVE, Madison, NE

Built 1972 Load: 18.0 t ADT: 25

549TH ST

Fair

Over: UNION CREEK N FK TRIB

11.5S 3E OF BATTLE CREEK, Madison, NE

Built 1970 Load: 18.0 t ADT: 60

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: STREAM

8.5N .5E NEWMAN GROVE, Madison, NE

Built 1995 Load: 18.0 t ADT: 30

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: STREAM

1.5N .5E OF MADISON, Madison, NE

Built 1935 Load: 18.0 t ADT: 45

COLL 7698

Fair

Over: STREAM

JCT US81/N32 4S 1.6W, Madison, NE

Built 1965 Load: 18.0 t ADT: 35

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: STREAM

7E OF NEWMAN GROVE, Madison, NE

Built 1935 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 50

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: BATTLE CREEK

7.5S 2.7W OF BATTLE CREEK, Madison, NE

Built 1975 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 60

536TH AVE

Fair

Over: BUFFALO CREEK

7S 3W MEADOW GROVE, Madison, NE

Built 1957 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 25

546TH AVE

Fair

Over: UNION CREEK N FK TRIB

4.2N 9E OF NEWMAN GROVE, Madison, NE

Built 1950 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 70

824TH RD

Fair

Over: SHELL CREEK TRIB

EJCT N32/N45 1E 4S, Madison, NE

Built 1979 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 60

537TH AVE

Fair

Over: BATTLE CREEK TRIB

11S 2W OF MEADOW GROVE, Madison, NE

Built 1979 Load: 21.0 t ADT: 40

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: STREAM

13W 1.2S OF MADISON, Madison, NE

Built 2004 Load: 21.0 t ADT: 55

837TH RD

Fair

Over: GILES CREEK TRIB

0.1 E OF HWY45 & 837TH RD, Madison, NE

Built 2002 Load: 21.0 t ADT: 50

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: STREAM

4S 2W OF BATTLE CREEK, Madison, NE

Built 1982 Load: 21.0 t ADT: 50

FAS 2810

Fair

Over: STREAM

JCT N32/N121 5N 2.8E, Madison, NE

Built 1954 Load: 21.0 t ADT: 175

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.