Bridge conditions in McDowell County, North Carolina
233 inventoried bridges · 21 rated poor · 2025 National Bridge Inventory
United States Bridge Conditions2025 National Bridge Inventory, FHWACompiled
McDowell County tracks close to typical: 21 of its 233 inventoried bridges (9.0%) are rated poor, against a national rate of about 7%.
- 21 of the 233 bridges in McDowell County, North Carolina, are rated in poor condition (9.0%) in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory, as of .
- 104 bridges (44.6%) are rated good and 108 (46.4%) fair.
- The median McDowell County bridge was built in 1984.
- The busiest poor-rated bridge is US70 over Catawba River over Flow (built 1952), carrying about 11,000 vehicles a day.
Good 44.6% · Fair 46.4% · Poor 9.0% of 233 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| US70 over Catawba River over Flow | 1952 | 11,000 | Poor |
| US221 over Goose Creek | 1950 | 8,500 | Poor |
| US221 over I-40 | 1958 | 7,200 | Poor |
| US70 over Southern RR | 1959 | 5,400 | Poor |
| Blue Ridge Parkway over Ravine | 1940 | 5,007 | Poor |
| Blue Ridge Parkway over Ravine | 1938 | 5,007 | Poor |
| US70 over SR1116 Sou.rr. Mill Cree | 1953 | 4,200 | Poor |
| NC226 over Alexander Creek | 1960 | 3,000 | Poor |
| SR1103 over Little Crooked Creek | 1978 | 2,300 | Poor |
| SR1536 over Southern RR | 1976 | 2,200 | Poor |
| NC226 over US64 | 1955 | 1,700 | Poor |
| SR1221 over Catawba Rvr & Private Rd | 1962 | 1,500 | Poor |
| SR1777 over South Fork Hoppers Creek | 1972 | 400 | Poor |
| SR1803 over North Muddy Creek | 1953 | 350 | Poor |
| SR1560 over North Fork Catawba River | 1971 | 350 | Poor |
| SR1573 over North Fork Catawba River | 1972 | 350 | Poor |
| SR1104 over Little Crooked Creek | 1983 | 200 | Poor |
| SR1409 over Mill Creek | 1961 | 150 | Poor |
| Claremont Avenue over Youngs Fork | 1958 | 100 | Poor |
| SR1559 over Limekiln Creek | 1960 | 70 | Poor |
| Nfsr 482A over Newberry Creek | 1953 | 30 | Poor |
Busiest bridges in the county
| Bridge | Built | Vehicles/day | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| I40 over Big Camp Creek | 1958 | 31,500 | Fair |
| I-40 over Thompsons Fork Creek | 1958 | 31,000 | Fair |
| I-40 over North Muddy Creek | 1958 | 29,000 | Good |
| I-40 over Glades Creek | 1958 | 28,500 | Fair |
| I-40 over Youngs Fork Creek | 1958 | 28,000 | Fair |
| I-40 over Curtis Creek | 1991 | 27,500 | Fair |
| I-40 Ebl over SR1803 | 2000 | 18,500 | Good |
| I-40 Wbl over SR1803 | 2001 | 18,500 | Good |
| I40 Ebl over South Muddy Creek | 2000 | 18,500 | Good |
| I-40 Wbl over South Muddy Creek | 2001 | 18,500 | Good |
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.