County profile · official public datasets

Scotts Bluff County, NE

250 public highway bridges tracked in the FHWA National Bridge Inventory: 64% rated Good, 30.8% Fair, 5.2% Poor.

250
Public bridges
64%
Good condition
5.2%
Poor condition

The verdict

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

Scotts Bluff County pairs a better-than-median Poor-condition share among rated counties in the state with an older average build year than the state inventory.

Top 47%
lowest Poor share in state
5.2%
Poor-condition share
250
public highway bridges
1972
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.

Scotts Bluff County Bridge Snapshot

According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory, Scotts Bluff County ranks #41 of 88 Nebraska counties with at least 5 public highway bridges on Poor-condition share (lower share ranks better; currently 5.2%). Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska contains 250 public highway bridges. Roughly 64% are rated “Good,” 30.8% “Fair,” and 5.2% “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

250

Public highway bridges in Scotts Bluff County

Good condition

64%

160 of 250 rated 7-9

Fair condition

30.8%

77 of 250 rated 5-6

Poor condition

5.2%

13 of 250 rated 4 or below

In-state Poor-share rank

#41 of 88

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

Condition distribution

Share of 250 NBI-tracked bridges by lowest applicable component rating.

Good
64% (160)
Fair
30.8% (77)
Poor
5.2% (13)

Scotts Bluff County's Poor-condition bridges carry 625 vehicle crossings a day

That is 0.3% of the county's reported daily bridge traffic on 5.2% of its bridges: Poor-condition structures carry less traffic than their share of the inventory. Each Poor bridge averages 48 crossings a day against 1,245 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 250 of 250 bridges in this county that report an average daily traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.

46.4% of Scotts Bluff County's bridges have passed the 50-year mark

116 of the 250 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 64% 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 24% of the county's Poor-condition bridge traffic

COOK OIL over TRI-STATE CANAL, built 1975, carries 150 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 13-bridge count understates how much of the daily burden sits on a single crossing.

Share is of the 625 daily crossings on Poor-rated bridges that report a traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.

When Scotts Bluff County's bridges were built

250 bridges with a recorded construction year, grouped by decade

bridges

What this shows Construction peaked in the 1980s, when 53 of the county's bridges still in the inventory were built, which is 21.2% of those with a recorded year. That cohort is now 35 to 44 years old in the 2024 inventory. Its average build year is 1972, 5 years older than the Nebraska average of 1977.

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

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

The 5 Nebraska counties nearest Scotts Bluff County in number of bridges, with their condition splits. Its 5.2% Poor share is the 2nd-lowest of these 6. Its average build year of 1972 against a peer-group mean of 1979 is 7 years older.

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

Bridge inventory size and condition shares for Scotts Bluff County and the 5 Nebraska counties closest to it in inventory size
County Bridges Poor
Richardson County 258 13.6%
Nuckolls County 255 9%
Colfax County 252 2%
Wayne County 251 9.6%
Scotts Bluff County (this page) 250 5.2%
Seward County 244 7.8%

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

Similar inventory size

Nearest county inventories outside NE (250 bridges here).

Similar average build year

Nearest mean year-built outside NE (1972 here).

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

Fair-condition bridges (77)

COUNTY ROAD P

Fair

Over: FORT LARAMIE CANAL

1.5E 7S OF LYMAN, Scotts Bluff, NE

Built 1935 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 45

COUNTY ROAD 4

Fair

Over: FORT LARAMIE CANAL

1.2E 3S OF LYMAN, Scotts Bluff, NE

Built 1970 Load: 5.0 t ADT: 35

COUNTY ROAD L

Fair

Over: FORT LARAMIE CANAL

7.2S 1E OF MORRILL, Scotts Bluff, NE

Built 1935 Load: 5.0 t ADT: 15

COUNTY ROAD D

Fair

Over: MITCHELL-GERING CANAL

2.5S OF HENRY, Scotts Bluff, NE

Built 1935 Load: 6.0 t ADT: 60

COUNTY ROAD 5

Fair

Over: MITCHELL-GERING CANAL

2.2E 1N OF LYMAN, Scotts Bluff, NE

Built 1935 Load: 6.0 t ADT: 35

COUNTY ROAD 10

Fair

Over: TRI-STATE CANAL

1.5E OF MORRILL, Scotts Bluff, NE

Built 1915 Load: 6.0 t ADT: 100

ROBIDOUX ROAD

Fair

Over: FORT LARAMIE CANAL

9.5S OF MITCHELL, Scotts Bluff, NE

Built 1935 Load: 7.0 t ADT: 75

FINCH ROAD

Fair

Over: STREAM

1E NINEMILE CK SPEC AREA, Scotts Bluff, NE

Built 1935 Load: 7.0 t ADT: 40

COUNTY ROAD 32

Fair

Over: TRI-STATE CANAL

2E 4N OF MINATARE, Scotts Bluff, NE

Built 1988 Load: 8.0 t ADT: 60

COUNTY ROAD 17

Fair

Over: FORT LARAMIE CANAL

12W 1S OF MELBETA, Scotts Bluff, NE

Built 1935 Load: 9.0 t ADT: 10

COUNTY ROAD 20

Fair

Over: FORT LARAMIE CANAL

5.5S 1W GERING, Scotts Bluff, NE

Built 1935 Load: 9.0 t ADT: 30

COUNTY ROAD 13

Fair

Over: STREAM

2N 1W OF MITCHELL, Scotts Bluff, NE

Built 1935 Load: 9.0 t ADT: 10

COUNTY ROAD 35

Fair

Over: LOW LINE CANAL

2E NINEMILE CREEK AREA, Scotts Bluff, NE

Built 1935 Load: 9.0 t ADT: 10

COUNTY ROAD 17

Fair

Over: TRI-STATE CANAL

2.5SE OF MITCHELL, Scotts Bluff, NE

Built 1915 Load: 9.0 t ADT: 40

FINCH ROAD

Fair

Over: NINEMILE CREEK

NINEMILE CK SPECIAL AREA, Scotts Bluff, NE

Built 1935 Load: 10.0 t ADT: 50

ROAD G

Fair

Over: HOPE CREEK TRIB

1N .2W NINE MILE CREEK, Scotts Bluff, NE

Built 1980 Load: 10.0 t ADT: 75

COUNTY ROAD 36

Fair

Over: TRI-STATE CANAL

6E 2N OF MINATARE, Scotts Bluff, NE

Built 1985 Load: 11.0 t ADT: 25

LAGOON ROAD

Fair

Over: HORSE CREEK

.2N OF LYMAN, Scotts Bluff, NE

Built 1935 Load: 13.0 t ADT: 60

COUNTY ROAD 12

Fair

Over: FORT LARAMIE CANAL

5S 2W OF MITCHELL, Scotts Bluff, NE

Built 1935 Load: 13.0 t ADT: 10

COUNTY ROAD 12

Fair

Over: MITCHELL-GERING CANAL

1.5S 2W OF MITCHELL, Scotts Bluff, NE

Built 1935 Load: 13.0 t ADT: 30

FAS 1065 MCGREW N

Fair

Over: S CH N PLATTE RIVER

JCT N92/L-79E 1.8S 5.2E, Scotts Bluff, NE

Built 1961 Load: 15.0 t ADT: 245

COUNTY ROAD M

Fair

Over: TRI-STATE CANAL

4.5E 2N OF MINATARE, Scotts Bluff, NE

Built 1960 Load: 15.0 t ADT: 55

COUNTY ROAD 19

Fair

Over: FORT LARAMIE CANAL

4.7S 2W GERING, Scotts Bluff, NE

Built 1935 Load: 17.0 t ADT: 15

FAS 1065 MCGREW N

Fair

Over: NORTH PLATTE RIVER

JCT N92/L-79E 1.7S 5.2E, Scotts Bluff, NE

Built 1961 Load: 17.0 t ADT: 245

FAS1045 HOLLOWAY

Fair

Over: N CH N PLATTE R

.1S HENRY, Scotts Bluff, NE

Built 1919 Load: 17.0 t ADT: 760

COUNTY ROAD W

Fair

Over: FORT LARAMIE CANAL

5S 1.5E OF GERING, Scotts Bluff, NE

Built 1935 Load: 17.0 t ADT: 15

COUNTY ROAD K

Fair

Over: WINTERS CREEK

1E OF SCOTTSBLUFF, Scotts Bluff, NE

Built 1985 Load: 18.0 t ADT: 40

EXPERIMENT FARM RD

Fair

Over: TUB SPRINGS CREEK

WJCT US26/N29 7E, Scotts Bluff, NE

Built 1967 Load: 18.0 t ADT: 650

COLL 7116 STONEGA

Fair

Over: STREAM

N EDGE OF LAKE MINATARE, Scotts Bluff, NE

Built 1967 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 60

COUNTY ROAD A

Fair

Over: DRY SPOTTED TAIL CREEK

1W N29 SIOUX CL, Scotts Bluff, NE

Built 1935 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 50

COUNTY ROAD 19

Fair

Over: CEDAR CANYON DRAIN

2.5S 2W OF GERING, Scotts Bluff, NE

Built 1935 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 60

JENKINS ROAD

Fair

Over: HIGH LINE CANAL

1.2NW OF LAKE MINATARE, Scotts Bluff, NE

Built 1935 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 30

ROBIDIOUX ROAD

Fair

Over: KIOWA CREEK

10.7S OF MORRILL, Scotts Bluff, NE

Built 1980 Load: 21.0 t ADT: 75

FAS 1045 HOLLOWAY

Fair

Over: MAIN CH N PLATTE R

.4 S HENRY, Scotts Bluff, NE

Built 1919 Load: 21.0 t ADT: 760

FAS 1070 LYMAN E

Fair

Over: DRY CREEK DRAIN

JCT N92/L-79C 1.5E, Scotts Bluff, NE

Built 1970 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 755

FAS 1070

Fair

Over: OWL CREEK

JCT N92/L-79C 2E, Scotts Bluff, NE

Built 1970 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 755

COUNTY ROAD G

Fair

Over: FORT LARAMIE CANAL

5.7E OF LYMAN, Scotts Bluff, NE

Built 1960 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 60

MITCHELL SOUTH

Fair

Over: MITCHELL-GERING CANAL

4S OF MITCHELL, Scotts Bluff, NE

Built 1948 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 670

COUNTY ROAD 15

Fair

Over: FORT LARAMIE CANAL

.5E 10.5S OF MITCHELL, Scotts Bluff, NE

Built 1960 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 100

COUNTY ROAD U

Fair

Over: STREAM

4S .5W OF GERING, Scotts Bluff, NE

Built 1970 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 100

COUNTY ROAD 31

Fair

Over: TRI-STATE CANAL

1E 3.5N OF MINATARE, Scotts Bluff, NE

Built 1980 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 45

SPRING CREEK RD

Fair

Over: STREAM

3SE MITCHELL, Scotts Bluff, NE

Built 1932 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 150

COUNTY ROAD 9

Fair

Over: FORT LARAMIE CANAL

3.2S OF MORRILL, Scotts Bluff, NE

Built 1960 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 10

FAS 1040

Fair

Over: GERING VALLEY DRAIN

JCT N71/N92 2.6S .8E, Scotts Bluff, NE

Built 1974 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 495

COUNTY ROAD 20

Fair

Over: ENTERPRISE CANAL

1.2NW OF SCOTTSBLUFF, Scotts Bluff, NE

Built 1960 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 150

COLL 7116 STONEGA

Fair

Over: LAKE MINATARE INLET

.5NW OF LAKE MINATARE, Scotts Bluff, NE

Built 1970 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 60

FAS 1060 N HIGHLA

Fair

Over: TRI-STATE CANAL

JCT US26/L-79E 4E 4.9N, Scotts Bluff, NE

Built 1971 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 260

COUNTY ROAD 12

Fair

Over: TRI-STATE CANAL

3.5E OF MORRILL, Scotts Bluff, NE

Built 1980 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 75

COOK OIL

Fair

Over: ENTERPRISE CANAL

1.5SE OF MITCHELL, Scotts Bluff, NE

Built 1960 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 150

FAS 1080 STONEGAT

Fair

Over: TRI-STATE CANAL

JCT N92/L-79E 1E 4N, Scotts Bluff, NE

Built 1970 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 635
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.