Jefferson School R over Difficult Creek
Allen County, Kentucky · rated Poor in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory
United States Bridge Conditions2025 National Bridge Inventory, FHWACompiled
- Jefferson School R over Difficult Creek in Allen County, Kentucky, is rated in poor condition in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory (as of ).
- Its lowest-rated component is the substructure, rated 2 (critical condition) on the 0-9 scale.
- It was built in 1979, making it 46 years old at the 2025 inventory.
- It carries about 128 vehicles a day (traffic count year 2014).
- Its listed owner is the county highway agency.
- It is one of 5 of the 88 inventoried bridges in Allen County rated poor (5.7%); 5 (5.7%) are rated poor.
- Its traffic status in the 2025 inventory is posted for load (NBI item 41).
- Its condition class and component ratings are unchanged from the 2024 inventory.
- Its most recent inspection on record is dated February 2024, on a 12-month routine inspection cycle.
- It is coded scour critical (NBI item 113 = 2): scour critical: extensive scour observed, foundations unstable.
- A poor rating means at least one major component - deck, superstructure, or substructure - is rated 4 or lower on FHWA's 0-9 scale. It does not by itself mean the bridge is unsafe; bridges judged unsafe are closed or load-restricted by their owners.
View this bridge on a map → (36.84917, -86.1575)
Component ratings
| Component | Rating (2024) | Rating (2025) | FHWA scale meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck | 6 | 6 | Satisfactory condition |
| Superstructure | 5 | 5 | Fair condition |
| Substructure | 2 | 2 | Critical condition |
Bridge details
| Structure | Steel stringer or multi-beam girder |
| Length | about 43 ft |
| Location | 0.7 Mi E of Jct Ky 101 |
| NBI structure number | 002C00004N |
| Condition class | Poor |
| Traffic status (item 41) | Posted for load |
| Last inspection (item 90) | February 2024 |
| Inspection interval (item 91) | 12 months |
| Scour (item 113) | 2: scour critical: extensive scour observed, foundations unstable |
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2025 data as reported by the Kentucky department of transportation.
Busiest bridges in Allen County
| Bridge | Built | Vehicles/day | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ky-100 over West Bays Creek | 2020 | 9,245 | Good |
| US-31E over West Bays Fk | 1985 | 7,900 | Fair |
| Ky-980 over W Bays Fork Creek | 1960 | 7,604 | Fair |
| US-31E over Trammel Fork Creek | 1986 | 5,792 | Fair |
| US-31E over Bays Fork Creek | 1985 | 5,640 | Fair |
| US-31E over Barren River Lake | 1963 | 5,516 | Fair |
All bridges nearby: Allen County, KY bridge conditions · every bridge in Allen County · Kentucky bridges.
Background: how bridge ratings work · what "poor" and "structurally deficient" actually mean · how often bridges are inspected.