Hornbuckle Creekrd over Hornbuckle Creek
Swain County, North Carolina · rated Poor in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory
United States Bridge Conditions2025 National Bridge Inventory, FHWACompiled
- Hornbuckle Creekrd over Hornbuckle Creek in Swain County, North Carolina, is rated in poor condition in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory (as of ).
- Its lowest-rated component is the substructure, rated 4 (poor condition) on the 0-9 scale.
- It was built in 1950, making it 75 years old at the 2025 inventory.
- It carries about 5 vehicles a day (traffic count year 2019).
- It is one of 15 of the 131 inventoried bridges in Swain County rated poor (11.5%); 15 (11.5%) 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 2023, on a 24-month routine inspection cycle.
- 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 → (35.47822, -83.19004)
Component ratings
| Component | Rating (2024) | Rating (2025) | FHWA scale meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck | 7 | 7 | Good condition |
| Superstructure | 5 | 5 | Fair condition |
| Substructure | 4 | 4 | Poor condition |
Bridge details
| Structure | Continuous steel stringer or multi-beam girder |
| Length | about 40 ft |
| Location | 389 Hornbuckle Creek Road |
| NBI structure number | 00000000000T026 |
| Condition class | Poor |
| Traffic status (item 41) | Posted for load |
| Last inspection (item 90) | February 2023 |
| Inspection interval (item 91) | 24 months |
| Scour (item 113) | 4: foundations stable, field review says exposed foundations need protection |
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2025 data as reported by the North Carolina department of transportation.
Busiest bridges in Swain County
| Bridge | Built | Vehicles/day | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Irr SR1378 over Oconaluftee River | 1972 | 14,000 | Fair |
| US74 SR1193 over Connelly Creek | 1976 | 13,500 | Fair |
| US19 over Oconaluftee River | 2010 | 13,000 | Good |
| US19 74 NC28 over Little Tennessee River | 1982 | 9,900 | Fair |
| SR1323 over Tuckasegee River | 1969 | 9,800 | Fair |
| US441 over Oconaluftee River Gov.rd | 1987 | 8,900 | Fair |
All bridges nearby: Swain County, NC bridge conditions · every bridge in Swain County · North Carolina bridges.
Background: how bridge ratings work · what "poor" and "structurally deficient" actually mean · how often bridges are inspected.