US 218 over Otter Creek
Mitchell County, Iowa · rated Fair in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory
United States Bridge Conditions2025 National Bridge Inventory, FHWACompiled
- US 218 over Otter Creek in Mitchell 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 1970, making it 55 years old at the 2025 inventory.
- It carries about 2,530 vehicles a day (traffic count year 2022).
- Its listed owner is the state highway agency.
- It is one of 70 of the 167 inventoried bridges in Mitchell County rated fair (41.9%); 16 (9.6%) 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 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 → (43.48735, -92.93826)
Component ratings
| Component | Rating (2024) | Rating (2025) | FHWA scale meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck | 5 | 5 | Fair condition |
| Superstructure | 5 | 5 | Fair condition |
| Substructure | 6 | 6 | Satisfactory condition |
Bridge details
| Structure | Continuous concrete slab |
| Length | about 127 ft |
| Location | 2.6 mi. N of Jct. SR A19 |
| NBI structure number | 000000000036490 |
| Condition class | Fair |
| Traffic status (item 41) | Open, no restriction |
| Last inspection (item 90) | September 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 Iowa department of transportation.
Busiest bridges in Mitchell County
| Bridge | Built | Vehicles/day | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ia 9 over Cedar River | 1992 | 2,990 | Good |
| Ia 9 over Sugar Creek | 2013 | 2,990 | Good |
| US 218 over Turtle Creek | 1987 | 2,530 | Good |
| US 218 over Stream | 1986 | 2,530 | Good |
| US 218 over Stream | 1967 | 2,530 | Good |
| US 218 & Ia 9 over Spring Creek | 1975 | 2,460 | Fair |
All bridges nearby: Mitchell County, IA bridge conditions · every bridge in Mitchell County · Iowa bridges.
Background: how bridge ratings work · what "poor" and "structurally deficient" actually mean · how often bridges are inspected.