US 278 over Little Cove Creek
Etowah County, Alabama · rated Fair in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory
United States Bridge Conditions2025 National Bridge Inventory, FHWACompiled
- US 278 over Little Cove 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 1998, making it 27 years old at the 2025 inventory.
- It carries about 14,255 vehicles a day (traffic count year 2022).
- 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.
- Its traffic status in the 2025 inventory is open, no restriction (NBI item 41).
- It was rated good in the 2024 inventory and is now fair (deck 7 to 6).
- Its most recent inspection on record is dated May 2024, 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 → (33.99504, -85.92499)
Component ratings
| Component | Rating (2024) | Rating (2025) | FHWA scale meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck | 7 | 6 | Satisfactory condition |
| Superstructure | 7 | 7 | Good condition |
| Substructure | 7 | 7 | Good condition |
Bridge details
| Structure | Prestressed concrete stringer or multi-beam girder |
| Length | about 292 ft |
| Location | 2.5MILES East of 431 |
| NBI structure number | 016384 |
| Condition class | Fair |
| Traffic status (item 41) | Open, no restriction |
| Last inspection (item 90) | May 2024 |
| Inspection interval (item 91) | 24 months |
| Scour (item 113) | 8: foundations stable, scour above the top of the footing |
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.