Bridge conditions in Avery County, North Carolina
108 inventoried bridges · 11 rated poor · 2025 National Bridge Inventory
United States Bridge Conditions2025 National Bridge Inventory, FHWACompiled
Of the 108 Avery County bridges in the federal inventory, 11 carry a poor rating. That 10.2% share is roughly 2x the national average.
- 11 of the 108 bridges in Avery County, North Carolina, are rated in poor condition (10.2%) in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory, as of .
- 30 bridges (27.8%) are rated good and 67 (62.0%) fair.
- The median Avery County bridge was built in 1987.
- The busiest poor-rated bridge is NC184 over Shawneehaw Creek (built 1952), carrying about 7,600 vehicles a day.
Good 27.8% · Fair 62.0% · Poor 10.2% of 108 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| NC184 over Shawneehaw Creek | 1952 | 7,600 | Poor |
| US221BYP NC181 over Grandmother Creek | 1990 | 6,400 | Poor |
| US221 over Linville River | 1941 | 5,300 | Poor |
| Blue Ridge Parkway over Stream | 1950 | 2,000 | Poor |
| SR1138 over Squirrel Creek | 1967 | 1,000 | Poor |
| SR1342 over Elk River | 1929 | 950 | Poor |
| SR1305 over Elk River | 1963 | 700 | Poor |
| SR1305 over Elk River | 1950 | 650 | Poor |
| Crooked Creek Lane over Shawneehaw Creek | 2010 | 500 | Poor |
| SR1186 over Horse Creek | 1968 | 310 | Poor |
| SR1158 over Whiteoak Creek | 2001 | 100 | Poor |
Busiest bridges in the county
| Bridge | Built | Vehicles/day | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| US221 over Linville River | 1968 | 10,500 | Fair |
| NC105 over Linville River | 1955 | 10,000 | Fair |
| US221 over Mill Timber Creek | 1941 | 7,600 | Fair |
| NC184 over Shawneehaw Creek | 1952 | 7,600 | Poor |
| NC181 over North Toe River | 1960 | 7,400 | Fair |
| NC194 over North Toe River | 1952 | 7,400 | Fair |
| US221BYP NC181 over Grandmother Creek | 1990 | 6,400 | Poor |
| US19E over Cranberry Creek | 1978 | 6,200 | Fair |
| US221BYP NC181 over Linville River | 1990 | 6,200 | Fair |
| US19E over North Toe River | 1970 | 5,900 | Fair |
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.