Richland Road over Bear Creek
Polk County, Florida · rated Fair in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory
United States Bridge Conditions2025 National Bridge Inventory, FHWACompiled
- Richland Road over Bear Creek in Polk County, Florida, 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 1965, making it 60 years old at the 2025 inventory.
- It carries about 1,500 vehicles a day (traffic count year 2023).
- Its listed owner is a city or municipal highway agency.
- It is one of 160 of the 359 inventoried bridges in Polk County rated fair (44.6%); 0 (0.0%) 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 September 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 → (27.90683, -81.84746)
Component ratings
| Component | Rating (2024) | Rating (2025) | FHWA scale meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck | 7 | 7 | Good condition |
| Superstructure | 6 | 6 | Satisfactory condition |
| Substructure | 7 | 7 | Good condition |
Bridge details
| Structure | Prestressed concrete channel beam |
| Length | about 22 ft |
| Location | 0.1 Mi North of Shady Ln |
| NBI structure number | 165101 |
| Condition class | Fair |
| Traffic status (item 41) | Open, no restriction |
| Last inspection (item 90) | September 2023 |
| Inspection interval (item 91) | 24 months |
| Scour (item 113) | U: unknown foundation, not evaluated for scour |
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2025 data as reported by the Florida department of transportation.
Busiest bridges in Polk County
| Bridge | Built | Vehicles/day | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| I-4 (SR-400) over Winston Drain | 1999 | 127,000 | Good |
| I-4 (SR-400) over Winston Creek | 1999 | 127,000 | Good |
| I-4 (SR-400) over Lake Gibson Drain Canal | 1961 | 104,500 | Fair |
| US-27 (SR-25) over I-4 (SR-400) | 2004 | 72,576 | Good |
| US-27 (SR-25) over Black Hills Canal | 1965 | 56,000 | Fair |
| US-27 (SR-25) over US-17 (SR-600) | 2000 | 56,000 | Good |
All bridges nearby: Polk County, FL bridge conditions · every bridge in Polk County · Florida bridges.
Background: how bridge ratings work · what "poor" and "structurally deficient" actually mean · how often bridges are inspected.