Bridge conditions in Ashe County, North Carolina
242 inventoried bridges · 53 rated poor · 2025 National Bridge Inventory
United States Bridge Conditions2025 National Bridge Inventory, FHWACompiled
About one in 5 bridges in Ashe County is rated in poor condition: 53 of 242 on the federal inventory, one of the higher shares in North Carolina.
- 53 of the 242 bridges in Ashe County, North Carolina, are rated in poor condition (21.9%) in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory, as of .
- 87 bridges (36.0%) are rated good and 102 (42.1%) fair.
- The median Ashe County bridge was built in 1982.
- The busiest poor-rated bridge is NC88 194 over Buffalo Creek (built 1949), carrying about 6,800 vehicles a day.
Good 36.0% · Fair 42.1% · Poor 21.9% of 242 bridges
Bridges rated poor
Every bridge in the county with a poor rating, busiest first. Poor means a major component is rated 4 or lower on FHWA's 0-9 scale; it is a repair flag, not a closure notice.
| Bridge | Built | Vehicles/day | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| NC88 194 over Buffalo Creek | 1949 | 6,800 | Poor |
| NC88 over Buffalo Creek | 1949 | 6,500 | Poor |
| NC194 over Big Horse Creek | 1983 | 3,800 | Poor |
| NC88 over Roan Creek | 1960 | 2,500 | Poor |
| Blue Ridge Parkway over Laurel Fork | 1939 | 2,300 | Poor |
| NC194 over Old Field Branch | 1978 | 2,200 | Poor |
| NC88 over North Fork New River | 1981 | 1,700 | Poor |
| NC88 over Ut to Peak Creek | 1960 | 1,700 | Poor |
| SR1514 over North Fork New River | 1962 | 1,300 | Poor |
| SR1100 over Gap Creek | 1967 | 1,000 | Poor |
| SR1628 over Roan Creek | 1964 | 760 | Poor |
| SR1133 over Buffalo Creek | 1982 | 670 | Poor |
| SR1602 over Nathans Creek | 1959 | 650 | Poor |
| NC88 over North Fork New River | 1981 | 600 | Poor |
| SR1120 over North Fork New River | 1966 | 560 | Poor |
| NC88 over North Fork New River | 1981 | 500 | Poor |
| NC194 over Helton Creek | 1981 | 500 | Poor |
| SR1340 over North Fork New River | 1977 | 500 | Poor |
| SR1100 over Three Top Creek | 1978 | 500 | Poor |
| SR1125 over Ben Bolen Creek | 1968 | 400 | Poor |
| SR1118 over Hoskin Fork Creek | 1993 | 370 | Poor |
| SR1118 over North Fork New River | 1968 | 350 | Poor |
| SR1308 over Cabbage Creek | 1975 | 350 | Poor |
| SR1625 over Roan Creek | 1985 | 350 | Poor |
| SR1310 over Big Laurel Creek | 1968 | 300 | Poor |
| SR1508 over Little Buffalo Creek | 1976 | 280 | Poor |
| SR1625 over Roan Creek | 1958 | 270 | Poor |
| SR1324 over Little Horse Creek | 1962 | 250 | Poor |
| SR1322 over Big Laurel Creek | 1960 | 250 | Poor |
| SR1592 over Dog Creek | 1975 | 200 | Poor |
| SR1573 over Grassy Creek | 1964 | 200 | Poor |
| SR1362 over Big Horse Creek | 1962 | 180 | Poor |
| SR1169 over W. Fork Pine Swamp Creek | 1961 | 170 | Poor |
| SR1119 over North Fork New River | 1972 | 160 | Poor |
| NC194 over Little Helton Creek | 1978 | 150 | Poor |
| SR1599 over Peak Creek | 1972 | 150 | Poor |
| SR1599 over Peak Creek | 2007 | 150 | Poor |
| SR1599 over Peak Creek | 1972 | 150 | Poor |
| SR1603 over Cranberry Creek | 1961 | 130 | Poor |
| SR1600 over Cranberry Creek | 1973 | 100 | Poor |
| SR1549 over North Fork New River | 1961 | 70 | Poor |
| SR1539 over Helton Creek | 1978 | 70 | Poor |
| SR1322 over Big Laurel Creek | 1956 | 70 | Poor |
| SR1608 over Piney Branch | 1964 | 60 | Poor |
| SR1326 over Big Laurel Creek | 1967 | 60 | Poor |
| SR1686 over Ut to Peak Creek | 1992 | 50 | Poor |
| SR1193 over Buffalo Creek | 1961 | 40 | Poor |
| SR1361 over Ripshin Branch | 1961 | 30 | Poor |
| SR1361 over Ripshin Branch | 1963 | 30 | Poor |
| SR1361 over Ripshin Branch | 1962 | 30 | Poor |
| SR1104 over S.fork New River | 1962 | 30 | Poor |
| SR1379 over Little Helton Creek | 1963 | 20 | Poor |
| SR1192 over Obids Creek | 1962 | 10 | Poor |
Busiest bridges in the county
| Bridge | Built | Vehicles/day | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| US221 over Naked Creek | 1981 | 13,500 | Good |
| US221 over Beaver Creek | 1981 | 13,000 | Good |
| US221 NC88 over Naked Creek | 1960 | 12,500 | Fair |
| US221 over Old Fields Creek | 2019 | 9,500 | Good |
| US221 over Tributary to Gap Creek | 2022 | 9,300 | Good |
| NC16 88 over Naked Creek | 1999 | 8,100 | Good |
| NC88 over Naked Creek | 1922 | 6,800 | Fair |
| NC88 194 over Buffalo Creek | 1949 | 6,800 | Poor |
| NC88 194 over Buffalo Creek | 2006 | 6,800 | Good |
| NC88 over Buffalo Creek | 1949 | 6,500 | Poor |
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2025. Counts cover inventoried highway bridges over 20 feet; ratings are reported by the state DOT.
All of North Carolina: North Carolina bridge conditions by county · every download on the data page.
Background: how bridge ratings work · what "poor" and "structurally deficient" actually mean · how often bridges are inspected.