County Highway over Niobrara River
Cherry County, Nebraska · rated Fair in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory
United States Bridge Conditions2025 National Bridge Inventory, FHWACompiled
- County Highway over Niobrara River in Cherry County, Nebraska, is rated in fair condition in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory (as of ).
- Its lowest-rated component is the substructure, rated 6 (satisfactory condition) on the 0-9 scale.
- It was built in 1988, making it 37 years old at the 2025 inventory.
- It carries about 10 vehicles a day (traffic count year 2003).
- Its listed owner is the county highway agency.
- It is one of 22 of the 57 inventoried bridges in Cherry County rated fair (38.6%); 11 (19.3%) are rated poor.
- Its traffic status in the 2025 inventory is open, no restriction (NBI item 41).
- Its class is unchanged from 2024 (fair), but component ratings moved: deck 8 to 7.
- Its most recent inspection on record is dated January 2025, 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 → (42.8517, -101.5283)
Component ratings
| Component | Rating (2024) | Rating (2025) | FHWA scale meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck | 8 | 7 | Good condition |
| Superstructure | 7 | 7 | Good condition |
| Substructure | 6 | 6 | Satisfactory condition |
Bridge details
| Structure | Prestressed concrete tee beam |
| Length | about 230 ft |
| Location | 8E 4.5S of Merriman |
| NBI structure number | C001605505P |
| Condition class | Fair |
| Traffic status (item 41) | Open, no restriction |
| Last inspection (item 90) | January 2025 |
| Inspection interval (item 91) | 24 months |
| Scour (item 113) | 4: foundations stable, field review says exposed foundations need protection |
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2025 data as reported by the Nebraska department of transportation.
Busiest bridges in Cherry County
| Bridge | Built | Vehicles/day | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| IRR/US83 over Minnechaduza Creek | 1991 | 2,440 | Good |
| US83 over Stream | 1952 | 2,440 | Fair |
| US20/83 over Niobrara River | 1994 | 2,365 | Good |
| US20 over Minnechaduza Creek | 1984 | 1,460 | Good |
| US83 over North Loup River | 1987 | 1,245 | Good |
| US83 over Ainsworth Canal | 1962 | 1,180 | Fair |
All bridges nearby: Cherry County, NE bridge conditions · every bridge in Cherry County · Nebraska bridges.
Background: how bridge ratings work · what "poor" and "structurally deficient" actually mean · how often bridges are inspected.