Old Wilderness Rd. over Possum Jaw Creek
Smyth County, Virginia · rated Fair in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory
United States Bridge Conditions2025 National Bridge Inventory, FHWACompiled
- Old Wilderness Rd. over Possum Jaw Creek in Smyth County, Virginia, is rated in fair condition in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory (as of ).
- Its lowest-rated component is the deck, rated 6 (satisfactory condition) on the 0-9 scale.
- It was built in 1952, making it 73 years old at the 2025 inventory.
- It carries about 143 vehicles a day (traffic count year 2022).
- Its listed owner is the state highway agency.
- It is one of 151 of the 189 inventoried bridges in Smyth County rated fair (79.9%); 7 (3.7%) are rated poor.
- Its traffic status in the 2025 inventory is posted for load (NBI item 41).
- Its condition class and component ratings are unchanged from the 2024 inventory.
- Its most recent inspection on record is dated May 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 → (36.96212, -81.45395)
Component ratings
| Component | Rating (2024) | Rating (2025) | FHWA scale meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck | 6 | 6 | Satisfactory condition |
| Superstructure | 6 | 6 | Satisfactory condition |
| Substructure | 6 | 6 | Satisfactory condition |
Bridge details
| Structure | Concrete slab |
| Length | about 21 ft |
| Location | 5.1 to R16-3.2 to Bland C |
| NBI structure number | 000000000017409 |
| Condition class | Fair |
| Traffic status (item 41) | Posted for load |
| Last inspection (item 90) | May 2023 |
| Inspection interval (item 91) | 24 months |
| Scour (item 113) | 5: foundations stable, scour within the limits of the footing or piles |
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2025 data as reported by the Virginia department of transportation.
Busiest bridges in Smyth County
| Bridge | Built | Vehicles/day | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| N&sbl Route 0081 over Laurel Spring Branch | 1963 | 33,381 | Fair |
| Interstate 81 over Nbl&sbl over Stream | 1963 | 31,442 | Fair |
| I-81 Nbl & Sbl over Rte 11 Nsrr Mfh River | 2021 | 31,084 | Good |
| Interstate 81 over Staley Creek | 1962 | 30,390 | Fair |
| Interstate 81 over N&sbl O Hutton Branch | 1963 | 29,356 | Fair |
| Route 81 over Nbl&sbl over Stream | 1964 | 27,803 | Fair |
All bridges nearby: Smyth County, VA bridge conditions · every bridge in Smyth County · Virginia bridges.
Background: how bridge ratings work · what "poor" and "structurally deficient" actually mean · how often bridges are inspected.