Local Access Road over Buffalo National River
Newton County, Arkansas · rated Fair in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory
United States Bridge Conditions2025 National Bridge Inventory, FHWACompiled
- Local Access Road over Buffalo National River in Newton County, Arkansas, 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 1943, making it 82 years old at the 2025 inventory.
- It carries about 20 vehicles a day (traffic count year 2019).
- It is one of 32 of the 65 inventoried bridges in Newton County rated fair (49.2%); 2 (3.1%) are rated poor.
- Its traffic status in the 2025 inventory is posted for load (NBI item 41).
- Its condition class and component ratings are unchanged from the 2024 inventory.
- Its most recent inspection on record is dated April 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 → (36.02125, -93.35478)
Component ratings
| Component | Rating (2024) | Rating (2025) | FHWA scale meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck | 6 | 6 | Satisfactory condition |
| Superstructure | 7 | 7 | Good condition |
| Substructure | 6 | 6 | Satisfactory condition |
Bridge details
| Structure | Concrete slab |
| Length | about 45 ft |
| Location | 0.5 miles east of Ponca |
| NBI structure number | 7150001P0000000 |
| Condition class | Fair |
| Traffic status (item 41) | Posted for load |
| Last inspection (item 90) | April 2024 |
| 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 Arkansas department of transportation.
Busiest bridges in Newton County
| Bridge | Built | Vehicles/day | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| US 65 Newton over Ditch | 1929 | 7,400 | Fair |
| SH 65 Newton over Circle Dr&MarshallBranch | 1966 | 6,701 | Poor |
| SH 7 Newton over Little Buffalo | 1974 | 2,917 | Good |
| AR 7 Newton over Mill Creek | 1928 | 2,600 | Poor |
| SH 7 Newton over Harp Creek | 1928 | 2,400 | Fair |
| SH 7 over Buffalo River | 2021 | 2,400 | Good |
All bridges nearby: Newton County, AR bridge conditions · every bridge in Newton County · Arkansas bridges.
Background: how bridge ratings work · what "poor" and "structurally deficient" actually mean · how often bridges are inspected.