SR 53 over Shoal Creek
Dawson County, Georgia · rated Fair in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory
United States Bridge Conditions2025 National Bridge Inventory, FHWACompiled
- SR 53 over Shoal Creek in Dawson County, Georgia, 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 1970, making it 55 years old at the 2025 inventory.
- It carries about 6,710 vehicles a day (traffic count year 2024).
- Its listed owner is the state highway agency.
- It is one of 24 of the 45 inventoried bridges in Dawson County rated fair (53.3%); 3 (6.7%) are rated poor.
- Its traffic status in the 2025 inventory is open, no restriction (NBI item 41).
- Its class is unchanged from 2024 (fair), but component ratings moved: deck 6 to 5, 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 → (34.42101, -84.14666)
Component ratings
| Component | Rating (2024) | Rating (2025) | FHWA scale meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck | 6 | 5 | Fair condition |
| Superstructure | 7 | 6 | Satisfactory condition |
| Substructure | 7 | 6 | Satisfactory condition |
Bridge details
| Structure | Steel stringer or multi-beam girder |
| Length | about 230 ft |
| Location | 1.6 Mi W of Dawsonville |
| NBI structure number | 000000008500100 |
| 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) | 5: foundations stable, scour within the limits of the footing or piles |
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2025 data as reported by the Georgia department of transportation.
Busiest bridges in Dawson County
| Bridge | Built | Vehicles/day | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dawsonville Hwy. over Thompson Creek | 1935 | 16,600 | Fair |
| SR 53 over Etowah River | 1980 | 16,500 | Fair |
| SR 53 over Flat Creek | 1931 | 12,700 | Good |
| Dawson Forrest Rd over Black Mill Creek | 1959 | 6,890 | Fair |
| SR 53 over Shoal Creek Trib | 1930 | 6,710 | Fair |
| SR 9 over Etowah Riv Overflow | 1955 | 6,690 | Fair |
All bridges nearby: Dawson County, GA bridge conditions · every bridge in Dawson County · Georgia bridges.
Background: how bridge ratings work · what "poor" and "structurally deficient" actually mean · how often bridges are inspected.