Route 501 over Dreaming Creek
Lynchburg city, Virginia · rated Fair in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory
United States Bridge Conditions2025 National Bridge Inventory, FHWACompiled
- Route 501 over Dreaming Creek in Lynchburg city, Virginia, is rated in fair condition in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory (as of ).
- Its lowest-rated component is the culvert, rated 6 (satisfactory condition) on the 0-9 scale.
- It was built in 1975, making it 50 years old at the 2025 inventory.
- It carries about 47,235 vehicles a day (traffic count year 2022).
- Its listed owner is a city or municipal highway agency.
- It is one of 35 of the 82 inventoried bridges in Lynchburg city rated fair (42.7%); 2 (2.4%) 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 December 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 → (37.37388, -79.21489)
Component ratings
| Component | Rating (2024) | Rating (2025) | FHWA scale meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Culvert | 6 | 6 | Satisfactory condition |
Bridge details
| Structure | Concrete culvert |
| Length | about 23 ft |
| Location | .84-460Bus/.39-Gravesmill |
| NBI structure number | 000000000020561 |
| Condition class | Fair |
| Traffic status (item 41) | Open, no restriction |
| Last inspection (item 90) | December 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 Virginia department of transportation.
Busiest bridges in Lynchburg city
| Bridge | Built | Vehicles/day | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| SBL Lynchburg Expr over US 29 Bus SBL | 1965 | 39,000 | Fair |
| Route 29 Bus. over James Street | 1994 | 37,337 | Good |
| Route 29 Bus. over Stadium Road | 1994 | 37,337 | Good |
| Lynchburg Exp over Garfield Avenue & NS Rwy | 1959 | 37,337 | Good |
| Route 29 Business over James R;NS;CSX & C Tpk | 1954 | 24,518 | Fair |
| Graves Mill Road over Tomahawk Creek | 1989 | 23,972 | Good |
All bridges nearby: Lynchburg city, VA bridge conditions · every bridge in Lynchburg city · Virginia bridges.
Background: how bridge ratings work · what "poor" and "structurally deficient" actually mean · how often bridges are inspected.