Smith Chapel Rd over Mill Creek
Walker County, Alabama · rated Poor in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory
United States Bridge Conditions2025 National Bridge Inventory, FHWACompiled
- Smith Chapel Rd over Mill Creek in Walker County, Alabama, is rated in poor condition in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory (as of ).
- Its lowest-rated component is the superstructure, rated 4 (poor condition) on the 0-9 scale.
- It was built in 1915, making it 110 years old at the 2025 inventory.
- It carries about 125 vehicles a day (traffic count year 1991).
- Its listed owner is the county highway agency.
- It is one of 16 of the 275 inventoried bridges in Walker County rated poor (5.8%); 16 (5.8%) are rated poor.
- Its traffic status in the 2025 inventory is closed to all traffic (NBI item 41).
- Its condition class and component ratings are unchanged from the 2024 inventory.
- Its most recent inspection on record is dated April 2013, on a 24-month routine inspection cycle.
- It has fracture-critical members (NBI item 92A): steel tension members without a redundant load path, which get their own scheduled inspections.
- A poor rating means at least one major component - deck, superstructure, or substructure - is rated 4 or lower on FHWA's 0-9 scale. It does not by itself mean the bridge is unsafe; bridges judged unsafe are closed or load-restricted by their owners.
View this bridge on a map → (33.8959, -87.4969)
Component ratings
| Component | Rating (2024) | Rating (2025) | FHWA scale meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck | 5 | 5 | Fair condition |
| Superstructure | 4 | 4 | Poor condition |
| Substructure | 4 | 4 | Poor condition |
Bridge details
| Structure | Steel through truss |
| Length | about 141 ft |
| Location | 1 Mile N Hwy 78 |
| NBI structure number | 000087 |
| Condition class | Poor |
| Traffic status (item 41) | Closed to all traffic |
| Last inspection (item 90) | April 2013 |
| Inspection interval (item 91) | 24 months |
| Scour (item 113) | 6: scour evaluation not yet made |
| Fracture critical (item 92A) | Yes |
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2025 data as reported by the Alabama department of transportation.
Busiest bridges in Walker County
| Bridge | Built | Vehicles/day | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| I-22 over Burnt Caine Creek | 2004 | 25,062 | Good |
| I-22 over Burnt Caine Creek | 2004 | 25,062 | Fair |
| I-22 over BNSF Railroad | 2004 | 25,062 | Good |
| I-22 over Dora Flat Creek Rd | 2004 | 25,062 | Good |
| I-22 over BNSF Railroad | 2004 | 25,062 | Good |
| I-22 over Cr-81 | 2004 | 25,062 | Good |
All bridges nearby: Walker County, AL bridge conditions · every bridge in Walker County · Alabama bridges.
Background: how bridge ratings work · what "poor" and "structurally deficient" actually mean · how often bridges are inspected.