Road 15 over Chowchilla River
Madera County, California · rated Fair in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory
United States Bridge Conditions2025 National Bridge Inventory, FHWACompiled
- Road 15 over Chowchilla River in Madera County, California, is rated in fair condition in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory (as of ).
- Its lowest-rated component is the deck, rated 5 (fair condition) on the 0-9 scale.
- It was built in 1974, making it 51 years old at the 2025 inventory.
- It carries about 1,051 vehicles a day (traffic count year 1976).
- Its listed owner is the county highway agency.
- It is one of 131 of the 250 inventoried bridges in Madera County rated fair (52.4%); 24 (9.6%) 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 March 2023, 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 → (37.15185, -120.27433)
Component ratings
| Component | Rating (2024) | Rating (2025) | FHWA scale meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck | 5 | 5 | Fair condition |
| Superstructure | 5 | 5 | Fair condition |
| Substructure | 7 | 7 | Good condition |
Bridge details
| Structure | Continuous concrete slab |
| Length | about 91 ft |
| Location | South Merced County Line |
| NBI structure number | 41C0066 |
| Condition class | Fair |
| Traffic status (item 41) | Open, no restriction |
| Last inspection (item 90) | March 2023 |
| 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 California department of transportation.
Busiest bridges in Madera County
| Bridge | Built | Vehicles/day | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| State Route 99 over Fresno River | 1989 | 68,000 | Good |
| State Route 99 over Little Dry Creek | 1912 | 67,000 | Fair |
| State Route 99 over SR 99 | 1973 | 65,000 | Good |
| State Route 99 over San Joaquin River | 2015 | 64,000 | Fair |
| State Route 99 over Berenda Creek | 1949 | 56,000 | Fair |
| State Route 99 over Chowchilla River | 1995 | 37,500 | Fair |
All bridges nearby: Madera County, CA bridge conditions · every bridge in Madera County · California bridges.
Background: how bridge ratings work · what "poor" and "structurally deficient" actually mean · how often bridges are inspected.