I40 over I40 / University Ave.
Knox County, Tennessee · rated Fair in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory
United States Bridge Conditions2025 National Bridge Inventory, FHWACompiled
- I40 over I40 / University Ave. in Knox County, Tennessee, is rated in fair condition in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory (as of ).
- Its lowest-rated component is the substructure, rated 5 (fair condition) on the 0-9 scale.
- It was built in 1965 and reconstructed in 1982, making it 60 years old at the 2025 inventory.
- It carries about 139,697 vehicles a day (traffic count year 2021).
- Its listed owner is the state highway agency.
- It is one of 275 of the 584 inventoried bridges in Knox County rated fair (47.1%); 3 (0.5%) are rated poor.
- Its traffic status in the 2025 inventory is open, no restriction (NBI item 41).
- It was rated poor in the 2024 inventory and is now fair (superstructure 6 to 7, substructure 4 to 5).
- Its most recent inspection on record is dated October 2024, 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 → (35.96323, -83.94628)
Component ratings
| Component | Rating (2024) | Rating (2025) | FHWA scale meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck | 7 | 7 | Good condition |
| Superstructure | 6 | 7 | Good condition |
| Substructure | 4 | 5 | Fair condition |
Bridge details
| Structure | Continuous steel stringer or multi-beam girder |
| Length | about 460 ft |
| Location | Downtown Knoxville |
| NBI structure number | 47I00400049 |
| Condition class | Fair |
| Traffic status (item 41) | Open, no restriction |
| Last inspection (item 90) | October 2024 |
| Inspection interval (item 91) | 24 months |
| Scour (item 113) | N: not over a waterway |
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2025 data as reported by the Tennessee department of transportation.
Busiest bridges in Knox County
| Bridge | Built | Vehicles/day | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| I40 over I40 / Papermill Rd. | 2006 | 182,502 | Good |
| I40 over I40 / Hollywood Dr. | 1965 | 182,502 | Good |
| I40 over I40/i40-eb Rmp to I75 N | 1981 | 182,502 | Good |
| I40 over Third Creek | 1965 | 182,502 | Fair |
| WB Frontage Rd. over I40-wb-rmp / Papermill | 2005 | 182,502 | Good |
| I40 Rmp C-c over I40-wb Rmp-i75n / Pmill | 1982 | 182,502 | Good |
All bridges nearby: Knox County, TN bridge conditions · every bridge in Knox County · Tennessee bridges.
Background: how bridge ratings work · what "poor" and "structurally deficient" actually mean · how often bridges are inspected.