Al - 53 (US 231) over Al - 4 (US 78)
St. Clair County, Alabama · rated Fair in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory
United States Bridge Conditions2025 National Bridge Inventory, FHWACompiled
- Al - 53 (US 231) over Al - 4 (US 78) in St. Clair County, Alabama, is rated in fair condition in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory (as of ).
- Its lowest-rated component is the superstructure, 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 25,520 vehicles a day (traffic count year 2024).
- Its listed owner is the state highway agency.
- It is one of 132 of the 183 inventoried bridges in St. Clair County rated fair (72.1%); 3 (1.6%) 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 (superstructure 7 to 6, substructure 7 to 6).
- Its most recent inspection on record is dated August 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 → (33.5881, -86.2804)
Component ratings
| Component | Rating (2024) | Rating (2025) | FHWA scale meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck | 7 | 7 | Good condition |
| Superstructure | 7 | 6 | Satisfactory condition |
| Substructure | 7 | 6 | Satisfactory condition |
Bridge details
| Structure | Prestressed concrete stringer or multi-beam girder |
| Length | about 100 ft |
| Location | Pell City |
| NBI structure number | 017287 |
| Condition class | Fair |
| Traffic status (item 41) | Open, no restriction |
| Last inspection (item 90) | August 2024 |
| Inspection interval (item 91) | 24 months |
| Scour (item 113) | N: not over a waterway |
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2025 data as reported by the Alabama department of transportation.
Busiest bridges in St. Clair County
| Bridge | Built | Vehicles/day | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| I 20 over Little Cahaba River | 1961 | 65,150 | Fair |
| I - 20 over Al - 4 ( US 78) | 2005 | 53,023 | Fair |
| I20 over Head Springs | 1961 | 51,890 | Fair |
| I - 20 over Kelly Creek | 2010 | 51,890 | Good |
| I - 20 over Cook Springs Road | 2010 | 51,890 | Good |
| I - 20 over Cane Creek | 1991 | 51,010 | Fair |
All bridges nearby: St. Clair County, AL bridge conditions · every bridge in St. Clair County · Alabama bridges.
Background: how bridge ratings work · what "poor" and "structurally deficient" actually mean · how often bridges are inspected.