US 278 over Browns Creek
Etowah County, Alabama · rated Fair in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory
United States Bridge Conditions2025 National Bridge Inventory, FHWACompiled
- US 278 over Browns Creek in Etowah County, Alabama, is rated in fair condition in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory (as of ).
- Its lowest-rated component is the deck, rated 6 (satisfactory condition) on the 0-9 scale.
- It was built in 1935 and reconstructed in 1953, making it 90 years old at the 2025 inventory.
- It carries about 7,886 vehicles a day (traffic count year 2021).
- Its listed owner is the state highway agency.
- It is one of 125 of the 238 inventoried bridges in Etowah County rated fair (52.5%); 5 (2.1%) are rated poor.
- A fair rating means the lowest-rated major component scores 5 or 6 on FHWA's 0-9 scale: some deterioration or minor section loss, but the structure is sound. It is the middle class, not a warning.
View this bridge on a map → (34.045, -86.15667)
Component ratings
| Component | Rating (2025) | FHWA scale meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Deck | 6 | Satisfactory condition |
| Superstructure | 6 | Satisfactory condition |
| Substructure | 6 | Satisfactory condition |
Bridge details
| Structure | Concrete tee beam |
| Length | about 91 ft |
| Location | 2 Mi. West Al 77 |
| NBI structure number | 004508 |
| Condition class | Fair |
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2025 data as reported by the Alabama department of transportation.
Busiest bridges in Etowah County
| Bridge | Built | Vehicles/day | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| US 431 over Nowlin Branch | 1959 | 33,989 | Fair |
| US 431 over Coosa Rv * US 411 | 1954 | 33,655 | Fair |
| US 431 over Lake Street | 1955 | 33,655 | Fair |
| US 431 over Branch | 1959 | 32,697 | Fair |
| George Wallacedr over Nowlin Branch | 1974 | 28,512 | Fair |
| US 431 over Branch | 1960 | 20,045 | Fair |
All bridges nearby: Etowah County, AL bridge conditions · every bridge in Etowah County · Alabama bridges.
Background: how bridge ratings work · what "poor" and "structurally deficient" actually mean · how often bridges are inspected.