Bridge conditions in Howard County, Nebraska
161 inventoried bridges · 11 rated poor · 2025 National Bridge Inventory
United States Bridge Conditions2025 National Bridge Inventory, FHWACompiled
Howard County tracks close to typical: 11 of its 161 inventoried bridges (6.8%) are rated poor, against a national rate of about 7%.
- 11 of the 161 bridges in Howard County, Nebraska, are rated in poor condition (6.8%) in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory, as of .
- 46 bridges (28.6%) are rated good and 104 (64.6%) fair.
- The median Howard County bridge was built in 1976.
- The busiest poor-rated bridge is Liberty Rd over Stream (built 1935), carrying about 225 vehicles a day.
Good 28.6% · Fair 64.6% · Poor 6.8% of 161 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty Rd over Stream | 1935 | 225 | Poor |
| 11TH Ave/coll 7568 over Oak Creek | 1981 | 160 | Poor |
| Liberty RD/COL7563 over Turkey Creek | 1974 | 75 | Poor |
| Valley Rd over Turkey Creek | 1971 | 60 | Poor |
| Salem Rd over Oak Creek | 1935 | 40 | Poor |
| 9TH Ave over Farwell South Canal | 1963 | 30 | Poor |
| Kimball Road over Stream | 1965 | 25 | Poor |
| Naper Road over Oak Creek | 1963 | 25 | Poor |
| 3RD Ave over Big Slough | 1977 | 15 | Poor |
| Odell Rd over Stream | 1970 | 15 | Poor |
| 14TH Ave over Stream | 1977 | 5 | Poor |
Busiest bridges in the county
| Bridge | Built | Vehicles/day | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| US281/N92 over Middle Loup River | 1994 | 5,285 | Fair |
| US281 over Lake Creek | 1994 | 4,270 | Good |
| US281 over Stream | 1962 | 3,150 | Good |
| N92 over Middle Loup River Trib | 1974 | 3,000 | Good |
| N11 over Middle Loup River | 1990 | 2,100 | Fair |
| US281 over North Loup River | 1955 | 2,020 | Fair |
| N11 over Auger Creek | 1981 | 1,400 | Fair |
| N11 over Munson Creek | 1982 | 1,400 | Fair |
| N11 over Stream | 1982 | 1,400 | Good |
| N11 over North Loup River Trib | 1982 | 1,400 | Fair |
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2025. Counts cover inventoried highway bridges over 20 feet; ratings are reported by the state DOT.
All of Nebraska: Nebraska 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.