SR1573 over North Fork Catawba River
McDowell County, North Carolina · rated Poor in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory
United States Bridge Conditions2025 National Bridge Inventory, FHWACompiled
- SR1573 over North Fork Catawba River in McDowell 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 1972, making it 53 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 21 of the 233 inventoried bridges in McDowell County rated poor (9.0%); 21 (9.0%) are rated poor.
- Its traffic status in the 2025 inventory is open, no restriction (NBI item 41).
- Its class is unchanged from 2024 (poor), but component ratings moved: deck 5 to 4, superstructure 5 to 4.
- Its most recent inspection on record is dated February 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 → (35.83454, -82.00225)
Component ratings
| Component | Rating (2024) | Rating (2025) | FHWA scale meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck | 5 | 4 | Poor condition |
| Superstructure | 5 | 4 | Poor condition |
| Substructure | 4 | 4 | Poor condition |
Bridge details
| Structure | Prestressed concrete slab |
| Length | about 120 ft |
| Location | 50 FT.E.JCT.US221 |
| NBI structure number | 000000001110111 |
| Condition class | Poor |
| Traffic status (item 41) | Open, no restriction |
| Last inspection (item 90) | February 2024 |
| Inspection interval (item 91) | 24 months |
| Scour (item 113) | U: unknown foundation, not evaluated for scour |
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2025 data as reported by the North Carolina department of transportation.
Busiest bridges in McDowell County
| Bridge | Built | Vehicles/day | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| I40 over Big Camp Creek | 1958 | 31,500 | Fair |
| I-40 over Thompsons Fork Creek | 1958 | 31,000 | Fair |
| I-40 over North Muddy Creek | 1958 | 29,000 | Good |
| I-40 over Glades Creek | 1958 | 28,500 | Fair |
| I-40 over Youngs Fork Creek | 1958 | 28,000 | Fair |
| I-40 over Curtis Creek | 1991 | 27,500 | Fair |
All bridges nearby: McDowell County, NC bridge conditions · every bridge in McDowell County · North Carolina bridges.
Background: how bridge ratings work · what "poor" and "structurally deficient" actually mean · how often bridges are inspected.