M-38 over Sturgeon River
Baraga County, Michigan · rated Fair in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory
United States Bridge Conditions2025 National Bridge Inventory, FHWACompiled
- M-38 over Sturgeon River in Baraga County, Michigan, is rated in fair condition in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory (as of ).
- Its lowest-rated component is the deck, rated 6 (satisfactory condition) on the 0-9 scale.
- It was built in 1956, making it 69 years old at the 2025 inventory.
- It carries about 2,977 vehicles a day (traffic count year 2007).
- Its listed owner is the state highway agency.
- It is one of 21 of the 68 inventoried bridges in Baraga County rated fair (30.9%); 5 (7.4%) 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 September 2023, on a 24-month routine inspection cycle.
- It is coded scour critical (NBI item 113 = 3): scour critical: foundations unstable for the assessed or calculated scour.
- 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 → (46.78273, -88.61787)
Component ratings
| Component | Rating (2024) | Rating (2025) | FHWA scale meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck | 6 | 6 | Satisfactory condition |
| Superstructure | 6 | 6 | Satisfactory condition |
| Substructure | 6 | 6 | Satisfactory condition |
Bridge details
| Structure | Steel stringer or multi-beam girder |
| Length | about 188 ft |
| Location | 6.6 Mi W of Baraga |
| NBI structure number | 000000000000500 |
| Condition class | Fair |
| Traffic status (item 41) | Open, no restriction |
| Last inspection (item 90) | September 2023 |
| Inspection interval (item 91) | 24 months |
| Scour (item 113) | 3: scour critical: foundations unstable for the assessed or calculated scour |
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2025 data as reported by the Michigan department of transportation.
Busiest bridges in Baraga County
| Bridge | Built | Vehicles/day | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| US-41 over Falls River | 1960 | 8,034 | Fair |
| Main Street over Linden Creek | 2004 | 6,570 | Good |
| US-41 over Bayou & Blk Water Creek | 1933 | 5,182 | Poor |
| US-41 over Little Carp River | 1937 | 3,883 | Fair |
| US-41 over Sturgeon River | 1947 | 3,585 | Poor |
| US-41 over Taylor Creek | 1951 | 3,585 | Good |
All bridges nearby: Baraga County, MI bridge conditions · every bridge in Baraga County · Michigan bridges.
Background: how bridge ratings work · what "poor" and "structurally deficient" actually mean · how often bridges are inspected.