SR1389 over Valley River
Cherokee County, North Carolina · rated Fair in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory
United States Bridge Conditions2025 National Bridge Inventory, FHWACompiled
- SR1389 over Valley River in Cherokee County, North Carolina, is rated in fair condition in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory (as of ).
- Its lowest-rated component is the superstructure, rated 5 (fair condition) on the 0-9 scale.
- It was built in 1961 and reconstructed in 1980, making it 64 years old at the 2025 inventory.
- It carries about 350 vehicles a day (traffic count year 2022).
- Its listed owner is the state highway agency.
- It is one of 93 of the 163 inventoried bridges in Cherokee County rated fair (57.1%); 17 (10.4%) 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 June 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 → (35.20006, -83.79936)
Component ratings
| Component | Rating (2024) | Rating (2025) | FHWA scale meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck | 7 | 7 | Good condition |
| Superstructure | 5 | 5 | Fair condition |
| Substructure | 6 | 6 | Satisfactory condition |
Bridge details
| Structure | Steel stringer or multi-beam girder |
| Length | about 61 ft |
| Location | .2 MI.N.JCT.US19 74 129 |
| NBI structure number | 000000000390136 |
| Condition class | Fair |
| Traffic status (item 41) | Open, no restriction |
| Last inspection (item 90) | June 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 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.