Laurel Avenue SW over Benges Branch
Norton city, Virginia · rated Poor in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory
United States Bridge Conditions2025 National Bridge Inventory, FHWACompiled
- Laurel Avenue SW over Benges Branch in Norton city, Virginia, is rated in poor condition in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory (as of ).
- Its lowest-rated component is the deck, rated 4 (poor condition) on the 0-9 scale.
- It was built in 1965, making it 60 years old at the 2025 inventory.
- It carries about 440 vehicles a day (traffic count year 1990).
- Its listed owner is a city or municipal highway agency.
- It is one of 2 of the 13 inventoried bridges in Norton city rated poor (15.4%); 2 (15.4%) 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 March 2024, on a 12-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 → (36.92643, -82.63617)
Component ratings
| Component | Rating (2024) | Rating (2025) | FHWA scale meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck | 4 | 4 | Poor condition |
| Superstructure | 4 | 4 | Poor condition |
| Substructure | 6 | 6 | Satisfactory condition |
Bridge details
| Structure | Concrete slab |
| Length | about 21 ft |
| Location | 0.01 Mi Fr 12TH St |
| NBI structure number | 000000000022445 |
| Condition class | Poor |
| Traffic status (item 41) | Posted for load |
| Last inspection (item 90) | March 2024 |
| Inspection interval (item 91) | 12 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 Norton city
| Bridge | Built | Vehicles/day | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Esserville Road over Guest River@ Norton | 1938 | 5,307 | Fair |
| 11TH & Main -st.sw over NS; CSX Interstate RR | 1954 | 5,187 | Fair |
| SR74 (coeburn Ave) over Lost Creek | 1971 | 2,730 | Fair |
| Main Avenue SW over Benges Branch | 1932 | 2,431 | Good |
| Kentucky Ave. over Guest River | 1977 | 2,045 | Fair |
| Kentucky Ave. over Guest River | 1977 | 2,045 | Fair |
All bridges nearby: Norton city, VA bridge conditions · every bridge in Norton city · Virginia bridges.
Background: how bridge ratings work · what "poor" and "structurally deficient" actually mean · how often bridges are inspected.