NC226 over Bear Creek
Mitchell County, North Carolina · rated Fair in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory
United States Bridge Conditions2025 National Bridge Inventory, FHWACompiled
- NC226 over Bear Creek in Mitchell County, North Carolina, is rated in fair condition in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory (as of ).
- Its lowest-rated component is the culvert, rated 6 (satisfactory condition) on the 0-9 scale.
- It was built in 1950, making it 75 years old at the 2025 inventory.
- It carries about 7,500 vehicles a day (traffic count year 2022).
- Its listed owner is the state highway agency.
- It is one of 52 of the 127 inventoried bridges in Mitchell County rated fair (40.9%); 28 (22.0%) are rated poor.
- 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 → (35.95799, -82.10576)
Component ratings
| Component | Rating (2025) | FHWA scale meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Culvert | 6 | Satisfactory condition |
Bridge details
| Structure | Continuous concrete culvert |
| Length | about 39 ft |
| Location | .01 MI.S.JCT.SR1197 |
| NBI structure number | 000000001210010 |
| Condition class | Fair |
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2025 data as reported by the North Carolina department of transportation.
Busiest bridges in Mitchell County
| Bridge | Built | Vehicles/day | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| US19E over Clinchfld RR N.toe Rvr | 1977 | 12,000 | Fair |
| NC226 over Grassy Creek | 1966 | 11,500 | Fair |
| NC226 over Rockhouse Creek | 1955 | 11,500 | Good |
| US19E over Beaver Creek | 1978 | 10,000 | Good |
| US19E over Beaver Creek | 1977 | 10,000 | Fair |
| US19E over Brushy Creek | 1960 | 9,200 | Good |
All bridges nearby: Mitchell County, NC bridge conditions · every bridge in Mitchell County · North Carolina bridges.
Background: how bridge ratings work · what "poor" and "structurally deficient" actually mean · how often bridges are inspected.