NC194 over Elk River
Avery County, North Carolina · rated Fair in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory
United States Bridge Conditions2025 National Bridge Inventory, FHWACompiled
- NC194 over Elk River in Avery County, North Carolina, 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 1991, making it 34 years old at the 2025 inventory.
- It carries about 2,200 vehicles a day (traffic count year 2021).
- Its listed owner is the state highway agency.
- It is one of 67 of the 108 inventoried bridges in Avery County rated fair (62.0%); 11 (10.2%) 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 May 2023, 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 → (36.17312, -81.94497)
Component ratings
| Component | Rating (2024) | Rating (2025) | FHWA scale meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck | 5 | 5 | Fair condition |
| Superstructure | 5 | 5 | Fair condition |
| Substructure | 5 | 5 | Fair condition |
Bridge details
| Structure | Prestressed concrete slab |
| Length | about 110 ft |
| Location | 200 FT.N.JCT.SR1321 |
| NBI structure number | 000000000110023 |
| Condition class | Fair |
| Traffic status (item 41) | Open, no restriction |
| Last inspection (item 90) | May 2023 |
| Inspection interval (item 91) | 24 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 North Carolina department of transportation.
Busiest bridges in Avery County
| Bridge | Built | Vehicles/day | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| US221 over Linville River | 1968 | 10,500 | Fair |
| NC105 over Linville River | 1955 | 10,000 | Fair |
| US221 over Mill Timber Creek | 1941 | 7,600 | Fair |
| NC184 over Shawneehaw Creek | 1952 | 7,600 | Poor |
| NC181 over North Toe River | 1960 | 7,400 | Fair |
| NC194 over North Toe River | 1952 | 7,400 | Fair |
All bridges nearby: Avery County, NC bridge conditions · every bridge in Avery County · North Carolina bridges.
Background: how bridge ratings work · what "poor" and "structurally deficient" actually mean · how often bridges are inspected.