Il 251 over Willow Creek
Lee County, Illinois · rated Fair in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory
United States Bridge Conditions2025 National Bridge Inventory, FHWACompiled
- Il 251 over Willow Creek in Lee County, Illinois, 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 2000, making it 25 years old at the 2025 inventory.
- It carries about 1,100 vehicles a day (traffic count year 2023).
- Its listed owner is the state highway agency.
- It is one of 184 of the 373 inventoried bridges in Lee County rated fair (49.3%); 42 (11.3%) 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 December 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 → (41.77197, -89.0836)
Component ratings
| Component | Rating (2024) | Rating (2025) | FHWA scale meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck | 6 | 6 | Satisfactory condition |
| Superstructure | 8 | 8 | Very good condition |
| Substructure | 8 | 8 | Very good condition |
Bridge details
| Structure | Prestressed concrete stringer or multi-beam girder |
| Length | about 103 ft |
| Location | 0.8 Mi. N. of US 30 |
| NBI structure number | 052006900000000 |
| Condition class | Fair |
| Traffic status (item 41) | Open, no restriction |
| Last inspection (item 90) | December 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 Illinois department of transportation.
Busiest bridges in Lee County
| Bridge | Built | Vehicles/day | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| US 52 & Il 2 & Il over Rock River | 2002 | 22,100 | Fair |
| I 39&US 51 over Steward Creek Branch | 1984 | 19,500 | Fair |
| I 39&US 51 over Dry Run Creek | 1982 | 19,100 | Fair |
| I 39&US 51 over Stream | 1984 | 19,100 | Fair |
| I 39&US 51 over Harmon Creek South | 1982 | 19,100 | Fair |
| I 39&US 51 over Willow Creek | 1983 | 18,700 | Fair |
All bridges nearby: Lee County, IL bridge conditions · every bridge in Lee County · Illinois bridges.
Background: how bridge ratings work · what "poor" and "structurally deficient" actually mean · how often bridges are inspected.