297TH Place over Buff Creek
Washington County, Iowa · rated Fair in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory
United States Bridge Conditions2025 National Bridge Inventory, FHWACompiled
- 297TH Place over Buff Creek in Washington 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 1955, making it 70 years old at the 2025 inventory.
- It carries about 34 vehicles a day (traffic count year 2022).
- Its listed owner is the county highway agency.
- It is one of 92 of the 207 inventoried bridges in Washington County rated fair (44.4%); 33 (15.9%) 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 February 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 → (41.22694, -91.49729)
Component ratings
| Component | Rating (2024) | Rating (2025) | FHWA scale meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck | 5 | 5 | Fair condition |
| Superstructure | 5 | 5 | Fair condition |
| Substructure | 5 | 5 | Fair condition |
Bridge details
| Structure | Concrete stringer or multi-beam girder |
| Length | about 68 ft |
| Location | 074061203 |
| NBI structure number | 000000000335570 |
| Condition class | Fair |
| Traffic status (item 41) | Open, no restriction |
| Last inspection (item 90) | February 2023 |
| Inspection interval (item 91) | 24 months |
| Scour (item 113) | 8: foundations stable, scour above the top of the footing |
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2025 data as reported by the Iowa department of transportation.
Busiest bridges in Washington County
| Bridge | Built | Vehicles/day | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| US 218 over Whiskey Run Creek | 1984 | 14,900 | Fair |
| US 218 over Stream | 1984 | 14,900 | Fair |
| US 218 over Drainage | 1997 | 13,800 | Good |
| US 218 over Big Slough Creek | 1997 | 12,400 | Good |
| SB US 218 over Goose Creek | 1984 | 7,600 | Fair |
| SB US 218 over Davis Creek | 1984 | 7,600 | Fair |
All bridges nearby: Washington County, IA bridge conditions · every bridge in Washington County · Iowa bridges.
Background: how bridge ratings work · what "poor" and "structurally deficient" actually mean · how often bridges are inspected.