NC281 over Horsepasture River
Transylvania County, North Carolina · rated Fair in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory
United States Bridge Conditions2025 National Bridge Inventory, FHWACompiled
- NC281 over Horsepasture River in Transylvania County, North Carolina, is rated in fair condition in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory (as of ).
- Its lowest-rated component is the deck, rated 5 (fair condition) on the 0-9 scale.
- It was built in 1973, making it 52 years old at the 2025 inventory.
- It carries about 2,500 vehicles a day (traffic count year 2022).
- Its listed owner is the state highway agency.
- It is one of 69 of the 159 inventoried bridges in Transylvania County rated fair (43.4%); 27 (17.0%) 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 July 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 → (35.09247, -82.97592)
Component ratings
| Component | Rating (2024) | Rating (2025) | FHWA scale meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck | 5 | 5 | Fair condition |
| Superstructure | 5 | 5 | Fair condition |
| Substructure | 7 | 7 | Good condition |
Bridge details
| Structure | Concrete tee beam |
| Length | about 240 ft |
| Location | 1.6 MI.S.JCT.SR1177 |
| NBI structure number | 000000001750067 |
| Condition class | Fair |
| Traffic status (item 41) | Open, no restriction |
| Last inspection (item 90) | July 2024 |
| 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 Transylvania County
| Bridge | Built | Vehicles/day | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| US64 276 over King Creek | 1927 | 28,000 | Fair |
| Ecusta Bypass over Davidson River | 2020 | 16,600 | Good |
| Ecusta Bypass over Davidson River | 2020 | 16,600 | Good |
| NC280 over Turkey Creek | 1952 | 15,000 | Good |
| US64 over Nicholson Creek | 1960 | 15,000 | Fair |
| US64 Wbl over Davidson River | 1934 | 13,500 | Fair |
All bridges nearby: Transylvania County, NC bridge conditions · every bridge in Transylvania County · North Carolina bridges.
Background: how bridge ratings work · what "poor" and "structurally deficient" actually mean · how often bridges are inspected.