SR1521 over Hughes Creek
Polk County, North Carolina · rated Good in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory
United States Bridge Conditions2025 National Bridge Inventory, FHWACompiled
- SR1521 over Hughes Creek in Polk County, North Carolina, is rated in good condition in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory (as of ).
- Its lowest-rated component is the culvert, rated 7 (good condition) on the 0-9 scale.
- It was built in 1957, making it 68 years old at the 2025 inventory.
- It carries about 420 vehicles a day (traffic count year 2016).
- Its listed owner is the state highway agency.
- It is one of 44 of the 128 inventoried bridges in Polk County rated good (34.4%); 16 (12.5%) 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 August 2023, on a 24-month routine inspection cycle.
- A good rating means every major component - deck, superstructure, substructure, or culvert - is rated 7 or higher on FHWA's 0-9 scale: no more than minor problems.
View this bridge on a map → (35.21165, -82.08937)
Component ratings
| Component | Rating (2024) | Rating (2025) | FHWA scale meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Culvert | 7 | 7 | Good condition |
Bridge details
| Structure | Continuous concrete culvert |
| Length | about 36 ft |
| Location | .1 MI.E.JCT.SR1539 |
| NBI structure number | 000000001490213 |
| Condition class | Good |
| Traffic status (item 41) | Open, no restriction |
| Last inspection (item 90) | August 2023 |
| 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 Polk County
| Bridge | Built | Vehicles/day | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| US 74 Eastbound over Pvt Rd (equestrian Cente | 2018 | 31,000 | Good |
| I-26 over Wolfe Creek | 1973 | 27,500 | Fair |
| I-26 over Horse Creek | 1969 | 27,500 | Fair |
| I-26 Wbl over SR1142 | 1969 | 19,500 | Fair |
| I-26 Ebl over SR1142 | 1969 | 19,500 | Fair |
| US74 Ramps over Horse Creek | 1975 | 17,500 | Fair |
All bridges nearby: Polk County, NC bridge conditions · every bridge in Polk County · North Carolina bridges.
Background: how bridge ratings work · what "poor" and "structurally deficient" actually mean · how often bridges are inspected.