US 281 NB over Trinidad Creek
Jim Wells County, Texas · rated Fair in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory
United States Bridge Conditions2025 National Bridge Inventory, FHWACompiled
- US 281 NB over Trinidad Creek in Jim Wells County, Texas, 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 1926 and reconstructed in 1962, making it 99 years old at the 2025 inventory.
- It carries about 4,622 vehicles a day (traffic count year 2020).
- Its listed owner is the state highway agency.
- It is one of 77 of the 192 inventoried bridges in Jim Wells County rated fair (40.1%); 3 (1.6%) 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 February 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 → (27.59032, -98.09224)
Component ratings
| Component | Rating (2024) | Rating (2025) | FHWA scale meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck | 7 | 7 | Good condition |
| Superstructure | 7 | 7 | Good condition |
| Substructure | 6 | 6 | Satisfactory condition |
Bridge details
| Structure | Concrete tee beam |
| Length | about 124 ft |
| Location | 0.4 Mi N of FM 735 |
| NBI structure number | 161260025501005 |
| Condition class | Fair |
| Traffic status (item 41) | Open, no restriction |
| Last inspection (item 90) | February 2024 |
| 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 Texas department of transportation.
Busiest bridges in Jim Wells County
| Bridge | Built | Vehicles/day | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| SH 44 over Drain | 1925 | 18,800 | Good |
| Ramp SH 44/BUS 281 over Lattas Creek | 1937 | 17,560 | Fair |
| US 281 Sbml over Cattle Pass - Playa | 2022 | 13,514 | Good |
| US 281 Sbml over 1st Street | 2022 | 13,514 | Good |
| US 281 Sbml over 8th St. CR 421 | 2022 | 13,514 | Good |
| US 281 NBML Ramp 1 over Paisano Branch | 2022 | 13,514 | Good |
All bridges nearby: Jim Wells County, TX bridge conditions · every bridge in Jim Wells County · Texas bridges.
Background: how bridge ratings work · what "poor" and "structurally deficient" actually mean · how often bridges are inspected.