US-281 Hwy over Elm Creek Drainage
Barber County, Kansas · rated Good in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory
United States Bridge Conditions2025 National Bridge Inventory, FHWACompiled
- US-281 Hwy over Elm Creek Drainage in Barber County, Kansas, is rated in good condition in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory (as of ).
- Its lowest-rated component is the deck, rated 7 (good condition) on the 0-9 scale.
- It was built in 1995 and reconstructed in 2019, making it 30 years old at the 2025 inventory.
- It carries about 1,313 vehicles a day (traffic count year 2023).
- Its listed owner is the state highway agency.
- It is one of 109 of the 241 inventoried bridges in Barber County rated good (45.2%); 2 (0.8%) 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 August 2023, on a 24-month routine inspection cycle.
- A good rating means every major component - deck, superstructure, substructure, or culvert - is rated 7 or higher on FHWA's 0-9 scale: no more than minor problems.
View this bridge on a map → (37.41722, -98.65)
Component ratings
| Component | Rating (2024) | Rating (2025) | FHWA scale meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck | 7 | 7 | Good condition |
| Superstructure | 8 | 8 | Very good condition |
| Substructure | 7 | 7 | Good condition |
Bridge details
| Structure | Continuous prestressed concrete stringer or multi-beam girder |
| Length | about 171 ft |
| Location | 11.33 Mi N Ejct US-160 |
| NBI structure number | 999928100040391 |
| Condition class | Good |
| Traffic status (item 41) | Open, no restriction |
| Last inspection (item 90) | August 2023 |
| 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 Kansas department of transportation.
Busiest bridges in Barber County
| Bridge | Built | Vehicles/day | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| US160 Hwy over Ba Co St Lake Drg | 2014 | 3,047 | Good |
| US281 Hwy over Elm Creek Drainage | 1949 | 2,493 | Good |
| US-281 Hwy over Elm Creek | 1995 | 2,493 | Fair |
| US-160 Hwy over Medicine River | 1995 | 2,237 | Good |
| US160 Hwy over Elm Creek | 1937 | 1,939 | Good |
| US-281 Hwy over Elm Creek Drainage | 1995 | 1,313 | Good |
All bridges nearby: Barber County, KS bridge conditions · every bridge in Barber County · Kansas bridges.
Background: how bridge ratings work · what "poor" and "structurally deficient" actually mean · how often bridges are inspected.