US129 over Southern Railroad
Cherokee County, North Carolina · rated Poor in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory
United States Bridge Conditions2025 National Bridge Inventory, FHWACompiled
- US129 over Southern Railroad in Cherokee County, North Carolina, is rated in poor condition in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory (as of ).
- Its lowest-rated component is the deck, rated 4 (poor condition) on the 0-9 scale.
- It was built in 1963 and reconstructed in 2013, making it 62 years old at the 2025 inventory.
- It carries about 2,000 vehicles a day (traffic count year 2022).
- Its listed owner is the state highway agency.
- It is one of 17 of the 163 inventoried bridges in Cherokee County rated poor (10.4%); 17 (10.4%) are rated poor.
- Its traffic status in the 2025 inventory is open, no restriction (NBI item 41).
- It was rated fair in the 2024 inventory and is now poor (deck 5 to 4, substructure 5 to 4).
- Its most recent inspection on record is dated July 2024, 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 → (35.24843, -83.70277)
Component ratings
| Component | Rating (2024) | Rating (2025) | FHWA scale meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck | 5 | 4 | Poor condition |
| Superstructure | 6 | 6 | Satisfactory condition |
| Substructure | 5 | 4 | Poor condition |
Bridge details
| Structure | Steel stringer or multi-beam girder |
| Length | about 109 ft |
| Location | 70 FT.N.JCT.US19 74 129 |
| NBI structure number | 000000000390013 |
| Condition class | Poor |
| Traffic status (item 41) | Open, no restriction |
| Last inspection (item 90) | July 2024 |
| Inspection interval (item 91) | 24 months |
| Scour (item 113) | N: not over a waterway |
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2025 data as reported by the North Carolina department of transportation.
Busiest bridges in Cherokee County
| Bridge | Built | Vehicles/day | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| US19 64 over Cane Creek | 1950 | 20,000 | Fair |
| US64 over Martin Creek | 2008 | 13,500 | Good |
| US64 over Hiwassee River | 2008 | 13,000 | Fair |
| US64 over SR1558 | 2008 | 13,000 | Good |
| US19 74 129 Nbl over Hiwassee River | 1979 | 10,250 | Fair |
| US19 64 74 Sbl over Hiwassee River | 1979 | 10,250 | Fair |
All bridges nearby: Cherokee County, NC bridge conditions · every bridge in Cherokee County · North Carolina bridges.
Background: how bridge ratings work · what "poor" and "structurally deficient" actually mean · how often bridges are inspected.