Fap 159 over Elk River
Carter County, Tennessee · rated Poor in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory
United States Bridge Conditions2025 National Bridge Inventory, FHWACompiled
- Fap 159 over Elk River in Carter County, Tennessee, is rated in poor condition in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory (as of ).
- Its lowest-rated component is the substructure, rated 3 (serious condition) on the 0-9 scale.
- It was built in 2012, making it 13 years old at the 2025 inventory.
- It carries about 2,132 vehicles a day (traffic count year 2021).
- Its listed owner is the state highway agency.
- It is one of 27 of the 194 inventoried bridges in Carter County rated poor (13.9%); 27 (13.9%) are rated poor.
- Its traffic status in the 2025 inventory is closed to all traffic (NBI item 41).
- It was rated good in the 2024 inventory and is now poor (substructure 8 to 3).
- Status change: newly closed since 2024.
- Its most recent inspection on record is dated May 2023, on a 24-month routine inspection cycle.
- A poor rating means at least one major component - deck, superstructure, or substructure - is rated 4 or lower on FHWA's 0-9 scale. It does not by itself mean the bridge is unsafe; bridges judged unsafe are closed or load-restricted by their owners.
View this bridge on a map → (36.27652, -81.99045)
Component ratings
| Component | Rating (2024) | Rating (2025) | FHWA scale meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck | 8 | 8 | Very good condition |
| Superstructure | 8 | 8 | Very good condition |
| Substructure | 8 | 3 | Serious condition |
Bridge details
| Structure | Continuous prestressed concrete stringer or multi-beam girder |
| Length | about 254 ft |
| Location | 5 M S of Elk Mills |
| NBI structure number | 10SR1590005 |
| Condition class | Poor |
| Traffic status (item 41) | Closed to all traffic |
| Last inspection (item 90) | May 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.