Melita Road (m-70) over Rifle River
Arenac County, Michigan · rated Fair in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory
United States Bridge Conditions2025 National Bridge Inventory, FHWACompiled
- Melita Road (m-70) over Rifle River in Arenac County, Michigan, is rated in fair condition in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory (as of ).
- Its lowest-rated component is the deck, rated 5 (fair condition) on the 0-9 scale.
- It was built in 2008, making it 17 years old at the 2025 inventory.
- It carries about 2,400 vehicles a day (traffic count year 2006).
- Its listed owner is the county highway agency.
- It is one of 43 of the 80 inventoried bridges in Arenac County rated fair (53.8%); 12 (15.0%) are rated poor.
- Its traffic status in the 2025 inventory is open, no restriction (NBI item 41).
- Its class is unchanged from 2024 (fair), but component ratings moved: deck 6 to 5.
- Its most recent inspection on record is dated August 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 → (44.07283, -84.01995)
Component ratings
| Component | Rating (2024) | Rating (2025) | FHWA scale meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck | 6 | 5 | Fair condition |
| Superstructure | 8 | 8 | Very good condition |
| Substructure | 8 | 8 | Very good condition |
Bridge details
| Structure | Prestressed concrete stringer or multi-beam girder |
| Length | about 180 ft |
| Location | 3 Miles North of Sterling |
| NBI structure number | 000000000000447 |
| Condition class | Fair |
| Traffic status (item 41) | Open, no restriction |
| Last inspection (item 90) | August 2024 |
| 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 Michigan department of transportation.
Busiest bridges in Arenac County
| Bridge | Built | Vehicles/day | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| I-75 Nb|us-23 NB over Sunsmith Drain | 1968 | 27,470 | Fair |
| US-23|MAIN St over Middle Br Pine River | 1994 | 14,971 | Fair |
| Sterling Road over I-75 NB | 1968 | 14,350 | Poor |
| I-75 Sb|us-23 SB over S Br Pine River | 1968 | 13,735 | Fair |
| I-75 Nb|us-23 NB over S Br Pine River | 1968 | 13,735 | Fair |
| US-23|W Huron Rd over N Br Pine River | 2001 | 9,170 | Good |
All bridges nearby: Arenac County, MI bridge conditions · every bridge in Arenac County · Michigan bridges.
Background: how bridge ratings work · what "poor" and "structurally deficient" actually mean · how often bridges are inspected.