Nfa A038 over Lick Creek
Carter County, Tennessee · rated Fair in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory
United States Bridge Conditions2025 National Bridge Inventory, FHWACompiled
- Nfa A038 over Lick Creek in Carter County, Tennessee, 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 1990, making it 35 years old at the 2025 inventory.
- It carries about 140 vehicles a day (traffic count year 2020).
- Its listed owner is the county highway agency.
- It is one of 86 of the 194 inventoried bridges in Carter County rated fair (44.3%); 27 (13.9%) 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 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 → (36.37639, -82.28778)
Component ratings
| Component | Rating (2024) | Rating (2025) | FHWA scale meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck | 5 | 5 | Fair condition |
| Superstructure | 5 | 5 | Fair condition |
| Substructure | 5 | 5 | Fair condition |
Bridge details
| Structure | Prestressed concrete stringer or multi-beam girder |
| Length | about 36 ft |
| Location | Just N. of Watauga |
| NBI structure number | 100A0380001 |
| Condition class | Fair |
| 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 Tennessee department of transportation.
Busiest bridges in Carter County
| Bridge | Built | Vehicles/day | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fau 67 841452G over Pedestrian Walkway | 1984 | 27,889 | Fair |
| Fau 67 over US-321 / Happy Valley Rd | 1986 | 24,080 | Fair |
| Fau 67 over US-321 / Happy Valley Rd | 1986 | 24,080 | Good |
| Fau 67 over US-321 / Sparks Rd | 1986 | 24,080 | Good |
| Fau 67 over US-321 / Sparks Rd | 1986 | 24,080 | Good |
| Fau 67 over SR-359 & Buffalo Creek | 1986 | 24,080 | Fair |
All bridges nearby: Carter County, TN bridge conditions · every bridge in Carter County · Tennessee bridges.
Background: how bridge ratings work · what "poor" and "structurally deficient" actually mean · how often bridges are inspected.