County Route 52/4 over Laurel Branch
McDowell County, West Virginia · rated Fair in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory
United States Bridge Conditions2025 National Bridge Inventory, FHWACompiled
- County Route 52/4 over Laurel Branch in McDowell County, West Virginia, 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 1981 and reconstructed in 2012, making it 44 years old at the 2025 inventory.
- It carries about 100 vehicles a day (traffic count year 2022).
- Its listed owner is the state highway agency.
- It is one of 145 of the 224 inventoried bridges in McDowell County rated fair (64.7%); 63 (28.1%) 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 March 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 → (37.43913, -81.50998)
Component ratings
| Component | Rating (2024) | Rating (2025) | FHWA scale meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck | 6 | 6 | Satisfactory condition |
| Superstructure | 6 | 6 | Satisfactory condition |
| Substructure | 5 | 5 | Fair condition |
Bridge details
| Structure | Steel stringer or multi-beam girder |
| Length | about 40 ft |
| Location | 0.05 Mi.s. of CR. 52/6 |
| NBI structure number | 00000000024A221 |
| Condition class | Fair |
| Traffic status (item 41) | Open, no restriction |
| Last inspection (item 90) | March 2024 |
| 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 West Virginia department of transportation.
Busiest bridges in McDowell County
| Bridge | Built | Vehicles/day | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| US 52 over Tug Fork | 1957 | 5,300 | Fair |
| US 52 over Elkhorn Creek | 2024 | 3,700 | Good |
| US 52 over Bottom Creek | 1932 | 3,500 | Fair |
| US 52 over Elkhorn Creek | 1936 | 3,500 | Fair |
| US 52 Alternate over Elkhorn Creek | 1979 | 3,400 | Fair |
| US 52 over Spice Creek | 1933 | 3,200 | Poor |
All bridges nearby: McDowell County, WV bridge conditions · every bridge in McDowell County · West Virginia bridges.
Background: how bridge ratings work · what "poor" and "structurally deficient" actually mean · how often bridges are inspected.