Bridge conditions in Vilas County, Wisconsin
29 inventoried bridges · 3 rated poor · 2025 National Bridge Inventory
United States Bridge Conditions2025 National Bridge Inventory, FHWACompiled
About one in 10 bridges in Vilas County is rated in poor condition: 3 of 29 on the federal inventory, one of the higher shares in Wisconsin.
- 3 of the 29 bridges in Vilas County, Wisconsin, are rated in poor condition (10.3%) in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory, as of .
- 13 bridges (44.8%) are rated good and 13 (44.8%) fair.
- The median Vilas County bridge was built in 1992.
- The busiest poor-rated bridge is Ush 51 over Manitowish River (built 1956), carrying about 3,800 vehicles a day.
Good 44.8% · Fair 44.8% · Poor 10.3% of 29 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ush 51 over Manitowish River | 1956 | 3,800 | Poor |
| Lrd Sugarbush Trai over Sugarbush Creek | 1940 | 102 | Poor |
| Lrd Irr (river Rd) over Bear River | 1958 | 73 | Poor |
Busiest bridges in the county
| Bridge | Built | Vehicles/day | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ush 45-sth 17-sth over Eagle River | 2000 | 14,000 | Fair |
| Sth 17-sth 70 over Mud Creek | 1981 | 9,600 | Fair |
| Sth 70 over Wisconsin River 53 | 1993 | 6,000 | Fair |
| Sth 70 over Link Creek | 1988 | 5,700 | Fair |
| Sth 47 over Mishonagon Creek | 2008 | 4,800 | Good |
| Sth 70 over Saint Germain River | 1968 | 4,300 | Fair |
| Sth 70 over Catfish Lake | 1978 | 4,300 | Good |
| Ush 51 over Spider Lake | 1998 | 4,300 | Good |
| Ush 51 NB over Trout R | 2022 | 4,300 | Good |
| Ush 45 over Pioneer Creek | 2009 | 3,900 | Good |
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2025. Counts cover inventoried highway bridges over 20 feet; ratings are reported by the state DOT.
All of Wisconsin: Wisconsin 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.