Ia 15 over Black Cat Creek
Emmet County, Iowa · rated Fair in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory
United States Bridge Conditions2025 National Bridge Inventory, FHWACompiled
- Ia 15 over Black Cat Creek in Emmet County, Iowa, 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 1977, making it 48 years old at the 2025 inventory.
- It carries about 500 vehicles a day (traffic count year 2022).
- Its listed owner is the state highway agency.
- It is one of 45 of the 78 inventoried bridges in Emmet County rated fair (57.7%); 15 (19.2%) 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 July 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 → (43.29842, -94.4806)
Component ratings
| Component | Rating (2024) | Rating (2025) | FHWA scale meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck | 6 | 6 | Satisfactory condition |
| Superstructure | 6 | 6 | Satisfactory condition |
| Substructure | 7 | 7 | Good condition |
Bridge details
| Structure | Continuous concrete slab |
| Length | about 128 ft |
| Location | 6.4 mi. S of IA 9 |
| NBI structure number | 000000000024341 |
| Condition class | Fair |
| Traffic status (item 41) | Open, no restriction |
| Last inspection (item 90) | July 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 Iowa department of transportation.
Busiest bridges in Emmet County
| Bridge | Built | Vehicles/day | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ia 9 over Des Moines River | 1975 | 8,200 | Fair |
| Ia 4 over West Fk Des Moines River | 1981 | 2,960 | Good |
| Ia 9 over Brown Creek | 1986 | 2,740 | Good |
| Ia 4 over Drainage Ditch | 1984 | 2,050 | Good |
| Ia 9 over E Fork Des Moines River | 1986 | 1,930 | Fair |
| Ia 4 over Drainage Ditch #2 | 2019 | 1,740 | Good |
All bridges nearby: Emmet County, IA bridge conditions · every bridge in Emmet County · Iowa bridges.
Background: how bridge ratings work · what "poor" and "structurally deficient" actually mean · how often bridges are inspected.