SH 291 Ml over Arkansas River
Chaffee County, Colorado · rated Fair in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory
United States Bridge Conditions2025 National Bridge Inventory, FHWACompiled
- SH 291 Ml over Arkansas River in Chaffee County, Colorado, 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 1962, making it 63 years old at the 2025 inventory.
- It carries about 3,900 vehicles a day (traffic count year 2020).
- Its listed owner is the state highway agency.
- It is one of 52 of the 83 inventoried bridges in Chaffee County rated fair (62.7%); 4 (4.8%) 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 November 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 → (38.60798, -106.0644)
Component ratings
| Component | Rating (2024) | Rating (2025) | FHWA scale meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck | 6 | 6 | Satisfactory condition |
| Superstructure | 6 | 6 | Satisfactory condition |
| Substructure | 6 | 6 | Satisfactory condition |
Bridge details
| Structure | Continuous steel stringer or multi-beam girder |
| Length | about 271 ft |
| Location | 6.8 Mi NW of Salida |
| NBI structure number | J-12-E |
| Condition class | Fair |
| Traffic status (item 41) | Open, no restriction |
| Last inspection (item 90) | November 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 Colorado department of transportation.
Busiest bridges in Chaffee County
| Bridge | Built | Vehicles/day | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| US 24 Ml over Cottonwood Creek | 1969 | 13,000 | Fair |
| US 285 Ml over Wildlife Crossing | 2019 | 9,700 | Good |
| US 285 Ml over Chalk Creek | 1965 | 9,000 | Fair |
| US 285 Ml over Draw | 1957 | 8,600 | Poor |
| US 24 Ml over Arkansas River | 1937 | 8,300 | Fair |
| County Road 194 over DRAW in State Park | 2010 | 7,900 | Good |
All bridges nearby: Chaffee County, CO bridge conditions · every bridge in Chaffee County · Colorado bridges.
Background: how bridge ratings work · what "poor" and "structurally deficient" actually mean · how often bridges are inspected.