NC55 over So. Prong Bay River
Pamlico County, North Carolina · rated Fair in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory
United States Bridge Conditions2025 National Bridge Inventory, FHWACompiled
- NC55 over So. Prong Bay River in Pamlico County, North Carolina, is rated in fair condition in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory (as of ).
- Its lowest-rated component is the deck, rated 6 (satisfactory condition) on the 0-9 scale.
- It was built in 1960, making it 65 years old at the 2025 inventory.
- It carries about 6,300 vehicles a day (traffic count year 2022).
- Its listed owner is the state highway agency.
- It is one of 21 of the 44 inventoried bridges in Pamlico County rated fair (47.7%); 7 (15.9%) 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 March 2023, 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 → (35.14089, -76.76503)
Component ratings
| Component | Rating (2024) | Rating (2025) | FHWA scale meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck | 6 | 6 | Satisfactory condition |
| Superstructure | 7 | 7 | Good condition |
| Substructure | 6 | 6 | Satisfactory condition |
Bridge details
| Structure | Steel stringer or multi-beam girder |
| Length | about 180 ft |
| Location | 0.3 Mi. E. of Jct. NC304 |
| NBI structure number | 000000001370036 |
| Condition class | Fair |
| Traffic status (item 41) | Open, no restriction |
| Last inspection (item 90) | March 2023 |
| 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 Pamlico County
| Bridge | Built | Vehicles/day | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| NC55 over Deep Run Creek | 2006 | 13,000 | Fair |
| NC55 over South Prong Bay River | 1955 | 13,000 | Good |
| NC55 over E. Fork Goose Creek | 2006 | 11,500 | Good |
| NC55 over Alligator Creek | 1982 | 5,100 | Fair |
| NC55 over Trent Creek | 2023 | 4,400 | Good |
| NC304 over North Prong Bay River | 2015 | 3,700 | Good |
All bridges nearby: Pamlico County, NC bridge conditions · every bridge in Pamlico County · North Carolina bridges.
Background: how bridge ratings work · what "poor" and "structurally deficient" actually mean · how often bridges are inspected.