US-421 over Poor Fk Cumberland River
Harlan County, Kentucky · rated Good in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory
United States Bridge Conditions2025 National Bridge Inventory, FHWACompiled
- US-421 over Poor Fk Cumberland River in Harlan County, Kentucky, 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 1987, making it 38 years old at the 2025 inventory.
- It carries about 5,821 vehicles a day (traffic count year 2023).
- Its listed owner is the state highway agency.
- It is one of 68 of the 253 inventoried bridges in Harlan County rated good (26.9%); 39 (15.4%) 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 June 2023, on a 48-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 → (36.80778, -83.30833)
Component ratings
| Component | Rating (2024) | Rating (2025) | FHWA scale meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck | 7 | 7 | Good condition |
| Superstructure | 7 | 7 | Good condition |
| Substructure | 7 | 7 | Good condition |
Bridge details
| Structure | Continuous prestressed concrete stringer or multi-beam girder |
| Length | about 268 ft |
| Location | 1.0 Mi S of Harlan |
| NBI structure number | 048B00167N |
| Condition class | Good |
| Traffic status (item 41) | Open, no restriction |
| Last inspection (item 90) | June 2023 |
| Inspection interval (item 91) | 48 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 Kentucky department of transportation.
Busiest bridges in Harlan County
| Bridge | Built | Vehicles/day | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| US-421 over Clover Fk Cumberland Rvr | 1976 | 15,138 | Fair |
| US-421 over Clover Fork & L.&n. R.R. | 1974 | 15,138 | Fair |
| US-421 over CSX Rr-ky 480-clover Fk | 1974 | 15,138 | Fair |
| US-119 over Ky 413 & Poor Fk Cmbrl R | 1966 | 7,584 | Fair |
| Ky-160 over Looney Creek | 1942 | 6,483 | Fair |
| Industrial Park Rd over Martins Fork | 1998 | 6,260 | Good |
All bridges nearby: Harlan County, KY bridge conditions · every bridge in Harlan County · Kentucky bridges.
Background: how bridge ratings work · what "poor" and "structurally deficient" actually mean · how often bridges are inspected.