US321 Sbl over S.fork Catawba River
Gaston County, North Carolina · rated Fair in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory
United States Bridge Conditions2025 National Bridge Inventory, FHWACompiled
- US321 Sbl over S.fork Catawba River in Gaston County, North Carolina, is rated in fair condition in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory (as of ).
- Its lowest-rated component is the substructure, rated 6 (satisfactory condition) on the 0-9 scale.
- It was built in 1987, making it 38 years old at the 2025 inventory.
- It carries about 20,250 vehicles a day (traffic count year 2018).
- Its listed owner is the state highway agency.
- It is one of 134 of the 233 inventoried bridges in Gaston County rated fair (57.5%); 21 (9.0%) 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 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 → (35.40006, -81.20983)
Component ratings
| Component | Rating (2024) | Rating (2025) | FHWA scale meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck | 7 | 7 | Good condition |
| Superstructure | 7 | 7 | Good condition |
| Substructure | 6 | 6 | Satisfactory condition |
Bridge details
| Structure | Prestressed concrete stringer or multi-beam girder |
| Length | about 451 ft |
| Location | 6.0mi.n.jct.nc275 & NC279 |
| NBI structure number | 000000000710349 |
| Condition class | Fair |
| Traffic status (item 41) | Open, no restriction |
| Last inspection (item 90) | May 2024 |
| 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 Gaston County
| Bridge | Built | Vehicles/day | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| I85 over Duharts Creek | 1963 | 129,000 | Fair |
| I85 over Catawba River | 1958 | 127,000 | Fair |
| I85 over US321 | 1962 | 117,000 | Good |
| I85 over Ut to Long Creek | 1962 | 101,000 | Fair |
| I85 over Kaglor Branch | 1962 | 96,500 | Fair |
| I85 over Abernathy Creek | 1962 | 81,000 | Poor |
All bridges nearby: Gaston County, NC bridge conditions · every bridge in Gaston County · North Carolina bridges.
Background: how bridge ratings work · what "poor" and "structurally deficient" actually mean · how often bridges are inspected.