Disclaimer & Responsible Use

PlainBridges is a free informational resource that makes the public Federal Highway Administration National Bridge Inventory easier to read. It is not an engineering assessment, not a safety certification, and not professional advice. Nothing here tells you whether a specific bridge is safe to drive across. Use it as a starting point for understanding public inspection data, not as the final word on a structure's condition.

Poor condition does not mean “unsafe”

A bridge is in Poor condition when its lowest applicable deck, superstructure, substructure, or culvert rating is 4 or below on the 0–9 NBI scale. It does not mean the bridge is dangerous or about to fail. “Structurally deficient” is a retired federal term that FHWA eliminated from program use beginning with the 2018 archive. Engineers and bridge owners, not a condition code, decide whether a bridge stays open, is posted, or is restricted.

Informational only, not engineering advice

Nothing on PlainBridges constitutes engineering, structural, legal, or safety advice, and using the site does not create any professional relationship. Bridge safety is determined by licensed inspectors and engineers working for the agency that owns the structure. For an authoritative judgment about a specific bridge, contact the relevant state Department of Transportation or local public-works agency. For the official record, consult the FHWA National Bridge Inventory directly.

What these figures are, and are not

The condition ratings on PlainBridges are a snapshot from the most recent inspection a state submitted, not a real-time measurement. Inspections can be up to 24 months old, and condition ratings involve professional judgment that varies between inspectors, a bridge rated 5 by one inspector might be rated 4 or 6 by another. The inventory load rating is an engineering reference value, not a guarantee of capacity for any particular vehicle. A bridge's true condition can change between inspection cycles because of weather, traffic loads, or maintenance work.

Data freshness and accuracy

The figures here reflect the most recent annual NBI release available to us, named and dated through our methodology and on the pages themselves. We work to keep the data accurate and to fix errors at the source, but we cannot guarantee it is complete, current, or free of upstream limitations such as missing fields or a lagging inspection cycle. If you spot a figure that looks wrong, please report it through our corrections process.

Reporting an actual bridge problem

PlainBridges cannot dispatch inspectors or repairs and is not a reporting channel for hazards. If you see a visible problem with a bridge, debris, damage, a structural concern, or an immediate danger, contact your state Department of Transportation, call the non-emergency line for local authorities, or dial 911 in an emergency. Our guide to reporting an unsafe bridge explains the right channels.

No affiliation

PlainBridges is an independent publisher. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by the Federal Highway Administration, the U.S. Department of Transportation, or any state agency. Outbound links to official sources are provided for verification and do not imply any partnership.

Questions

Questions about how to use this data, or about a specific figure, are welcome at hello@plainbridges.com. See also our editorial & corrections policy and methodology.