Ia 57 over W Branch Cedar River
Hardin County, Iowa · rated Fair in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory
United States Bridge Conditions2025 National Bridge Inventory, FHWACompiled
- Ia 57 over W Branch Cedar River in Hardin County, Iowa, 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 1960 and reconstructed in 1984, making it 65 years old at the 2025 inventory.
- It carries about 1,940 vehicles a day (traffic count year 2023).
- Its listed owner is the state highway agency.
- It is one of 85 of the 241 inventoried bridges in Hardin County rated fair (35.3%); 69 (28.6%) 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, substructure 7 to 6.
- Its most recent inspection on record is dated July 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 → (42.55672, -93.08719)
Component ratings
| Component | Rating (2024) | Rating (2025) | FHWA scale meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck | 6 | 5 | Fair condition |
| Superstructure | 6 | 6 | Satisfactory condition |
| Substructure | 7 | 6 | Satisfactory condition |
Bridge details
| Structure | Steel stringer or multi-beam girder |
| Length | about 54 ft |
| Location | 1.6 Miles West of SR S56 |
| NBI structure number | 000000000027030 |
| Condition class | Fair |
| Traffic status (item 41) | Open, no restriction |
| Last inspection (item 90) | July 2024 |
| Inspection interval (item 91) | 24 months |
| Scour (item 113) | 7: scour countermeasures installed |
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2025 data as reported by the Iowa department of transportation.
Busiest bridges in Hardin County
| Bridge | Built | Vehicles/day | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| US 20 over Drainage | 2003 | 9,800 | Good |
| US 20 over Drainage | 2003 | 9,200 | Good |
| US 20 over Iowa River | 2003 | 9,200 | Good |
| US 65 over Iowa River | 2011 | 7,800 | Good |
| Washington St over Iowa River | 1934 | 6,251 | Fair |
| US 65 over Beaver Creek | 1976 | 5,300 | Good |
All bridges nearby: Hardin County, IA bridge conditions · every bridge in Hardin County · Iowa bridges.
Background: how bridge ratings work · what "poor" and "structurally deficient" actually mean · how often bridges are inspected.