Access Ramp to U.S over Middle Fork New River
Watauga County, North Carolina · rated Fair in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory
United States Bridge Conditions2025 National Bridge Inventory, FHWACompiled
- Access Ramp to U.S over Middle Fork New River in Watauga County, North Carolina, is rated in fair condition in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory (as of ).
- Its lowest-rated component is the superstructure, rated 6 (satisfactory condition) on the 0-9 scale.
- It was built in 1957 and reconstructed in 1984, making it 68 years old at the 2025 inventory.
- It carries about 2,300 vehicles a day (traffic count year 2011).
- It is one of 96 of the 202 inventoried bridges in Watauga County rated fair (47.5%); 19 (9.4%) 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 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 → (36.14842, -81.66125)
Component ratings
| Component | Rating (2024) | Rating (2025) | FHWA scale meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Superstructure | 6 | 6 | Satisfactory condition |
| Substructure | 6 | 6 | Satisfactory condition |
Bridge details
| Structure | Concrete deck arch |
| Length | about 20 ft |
| Location | Access Ramp to U.S. Route |
| NBI structure number | 5140172P0000000 |
| Condition class | Fair |
| Traffic status (item 41) | Open, no restriction |
| Last inspection (item 90) | July 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 Watauga County
| Bridge | Built | Vehicles/day | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| US221 321 over Winkler Creek | 1947 | 42,000 | Fair |
| NC105 over Hodges Creek | 1954 | 30,000 | Good |
| NC105 over Boone Creek | 1964 | 30,000 | Good |
| US221 421 over South Fork New River | 1990 | 27,000 | Fair |
| US221 US32 over Mid. Fork S. Fork New Rv | 1949 | 22,500 | Fair |
| US221 US32 over Middle Fork S.fork Newrv | 1949 | 21,000 | Fair |
All bridges nearby: Watauga County, NC bridge conditions · every bridge in Watauga County · North Carolina bridges.
Background: how bridge ratings work · what "poor" and "structurally deficient" actually mean · how often bridges are inspected.