County Road 79 over Upper Bear Creek
Marion County, Alabama · rated Fair in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory
United States Bridge Conditions2025 National Bridge Inventory, FHWACompiled
- County Road 79 over Upper Bear Creek in Marion 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 1977, making it 48 years old at the 2025 inventory.
- It carries about 625 vehicles a day (traffic count year 2001).
- Its listed owner is the county highway agency.
- It is one of 170 of the 255 inventoried bridges in Marion County rated fair (66.7%); 2 (0.8%) are rated poor.
- Its traffic status in the 2025 inventory is open, no restriction (NBI item 41).
- Its condition class and component ratings are unchanged from the 2024 inventory.
- Its most recent inspection on record is dated January 2025, on a 24-month routine inspection cycle.
- 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 → (34.28113, -87.68577)
Component ratings
| Component | Rating (2024) | Rating (2025) | FHWA scale meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck | 6 | 6 | Satisfactory condition |
| Superstructure | 7 | 7 | Good condition |
| Substructure | 7 | 7 | Good condition |
Bridge details
| Structure | Continuous steel stringer or multi-beam girder |
| Length | about 465 ft |
| Location | 1 Mile NE of Bear Creek |
| NBI structure number | 011717 |
| Condition class | Fair |
| Traffic status (item 41) | Open, no restriction |
| Last inspection (item 90) | January 2025 |
| Inspection interval (item 91) | 24 months |
| Scour (item 113) | 5: foundations stable, scour within the limits of the footing or piles |
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2025 data as reported by the Alabama department of transportation.
Busiest bridges in Marion County
| Bridge | Built | Vehicles/day | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Al-17 over Ragsdale Creek | 1931 | 14,158 | Fair |
| Al-171 over Branch | 1928 | 13,505 | Fair |
| I-22 over New River | 2004 | 13,401 | Good |
| I-22 over New River | 2004 | 13,401 | Fair |
| I-22 over Gulf Branch | 2004 | 13,401 | Fair |
| I-22 over Gulf Branch | 2004 | 13,401 | Good |
All bridges nearby: Marion County, AL bridge conditions · every bridge in Marion County · Alabama bridges.
Background: how bridge ratings work · what "poor" and "structurally deficient" actually mean · how often bridges are inspected.