5th Road over Trib. Smoky Hill River
Ellsworth County, Kansas · rated Fair in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory
United States Bridge Conditions2025 National Bridge Inventory, FHWACompiled
- 5th Road over Trib. Smoky Hill River in Ellsworth County, Kansas, 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 1936, making it 89 years old at the 2025 inventory.
- It carries about 25 vehicles a day (traffic count year 2020).
- Its listed owner is the county highway agency.
- It is one of 126 of the 255 inventoried bridges in Ellsworth County rated fair (49.4%); 6 (2.4%) 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 March 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 → (38.75981, -98.41211)
Component ratings
| Component | Rating (2024) | Rating (2025) | FHWA scale meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck | 6 | 6 | Satisfactory condition |
| Superstructure | 6 | 6 | Satisfactory condition |
| Substructure | 6 | 6 | Satisfactory condition |
Bridge details
| Structure | Steel stringer or multi-beam girder |
| Length | about 35 ft |
| Location | 3.4E 4.4S of Wilson |
| NBI structure number | 000000000270060 |
| Condition class | Fair |
| Traffic status (item 41) | Open, no restriction |
| Last inspection (item 90) | March 2024 |
| Inspection interval (item 91) | 24 months |
| Scour (item 113) | 4: foundations stable, field review says exposed foundations need protection |
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2025 data as reported by the Kansas department of transportation.
Busiest bridges in Ellsworth County
| Bridge | Built | Vehicles/day | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| I70 Hwy WB over East Elkhorn Creek | 1964 | 8,400 | Fair |
| I70 Hwy EB over East Elkhorn Creek | 1964 | 8,400 | Fair |
| I70 Hwy Nl-sl over Local Road | 1964 | 8,400 | Fair |
| I70 Hwy WB over RS1004 Lt K156 Hwy | 1964 | 7,000 | Good |
| I70 Hwy EB over K156 Hwy | 1964 | 7,000 | Good |
| I70 Hwy WB over K14 Highway | 1964 | 6,350 | Good |
All bridges nearby: Ellsworth County, KS bridge conditions · every bridge in Ellsworth County · Kansas bridges.
Background: how bridge ratings work · what "poor" and "structurally deficient" actually mean · how often bridges are inspected.