US Highway 281 SB over James River
Stutsman County, North Dakota · rated Fair in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory
United States Bridge Conditions2025 National Bridge Inventory, FHWACompiled
- US Highway 281 SB over James River in Stutsman County, North Dakota, 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 1960 and reconstructed in 1999, making it 65 years old at the 2025 inventory.
- It carries about 10,370 vehicles a day (traffic count year 2020).
- Its listed owner is the state highway agency.
- It is one of 39 of the 78 inventoried bridges in Stutsman County rated fair (50.0%); 7 (9.0%) 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 October 2023, on a 24-month routine inspection cycle.
- It is coded scour critical (NBI item 113 = 3): scour critical: foundations unstable for the assessed or calculated scour.
- 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 → (46.89899, -98.70856)
Component ratings
| Component | Rating (2024) | Rating (2025) | FHWA scale meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck | 5 | 5 | Fair condition |
| Superstructure | 7 | 7 | Good condition |
| Substructure | 5 | 5 | Fair condition |
Bridge details
| Structure | Continuous concrete tee beam |
| Length | about 145 ft |
| Location | 1 North of I-94 |
| NBI structure number | 0281068593 L |
| Condition class | Fair |
| Traffic status (item 41) | Open, no restriction |
| Last inspection (item 90) | October 2023 |
| Inspection interval (item 91) | 24 months |
| Scour (item 113) | 3: scour critical: foundations unstable for the assessed or calculated scour |
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2025 data as reported by the North Dakota department of transportation.
Busiest bridges in Stutsman County
| Bridge | Built | Vehicles/day | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Highway 281 over I-94/US 281 Interchange | 1957 | 13,300 | Fair |
| US Highway 281 over James River | 1933 | 10,370 | Fair |
| Interstate 94 over Creek | 1958 | 8,400 | Good |
| US Highway 52 over James River | 1939 | 5,600 | Fair |
| Interstate 94 over Bnrr & SE Jamestown Int | 2017 | 4,560 | Fair |
| US 52/281 Bypass over Red R. Valley/western RR | 2003 | 4,200 | Good |
All bridges nearby: Stutsman County, ND bridge conditions · every bridge in Stutsman County · North Dakota bridges.
Background: how bridge ratings work · what "poor" and "structurally deficient" actually mean · how often bridges are inspected.