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US281 Hwy over Smoky Hill River Drain

Russell County, Kansas · rated Fair in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory

United States Bridge Conditions2025 National Bridge Inventory, FHWACompiled August 20, 2026

US281 Hwy over Smoky Hill River Drain in Russell County, Kansas, is rated in fair condition in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory (as of August 20, 2026).
Its lowest-rated component is the culvert, rated 6 (satisfactory condition) on the 0-9 scale.
It was built in 1933 and reconstructed in 1960, making it 92 years old at the 2025 inventory.
It carries about 1,990 vehicles a day (traffic count year 2023).
Its listed owner is the state highway agency.
It is one of 144 of the 261 inventoried bridges in Russell County rated fair (55.2%); 4 (1.5%) are rated poor.
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.

Component ratings

Component	Rating (2025)	FHWA scale meaning
Culvert	6	Satisfactory condition

Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2025 data as reported by the Kansas department of transportation.

Bridge	Built	Vehicles/day	Condition
I70 Hwy Nl-sl over Big Creek Drainage	1965	8,550	Fair
I70 Hwy Nl-sl over Big Creek Drainage	1965	8,550	Fair
I70 Hwy Nl-sl over Big Creek Drainage	1965	8,550	Good
I70 Hwy Nl-sl over Fossil Creek	1965	8,250	Fair
I70 Hwy WB over 195TH Street	1966	7,050	Good
I70 Hwy EB over 195TH Street	1966	7,050	Good