National Bridge Inventory: Nebraska



  • Of the 15,336 bridges in the state, 1,220, or 8.0 percent, are classified as structurally deficient. This means one of the key elements is in poor or worse condition.
  • This is down from 1,358 bridges classified as structurally deficient in 2018.
  • The deck area of structurally deficient bridges accounts for 4.7 percent of total deck area on all structures.
  • 2 of the structurally deficient bridges are on the Interstate Highway System. A total of 96.8 percent of the structurally deficient bridges are not on the National Highway System, which includes the Interstate and other key roads linking major airports, ports, rail and truck terminals.
  • 3,706 bridges are posted for load, which may restrict the size and weight of vehicles crossing the structure.
  • The state has identified needed repairs on 6,321 bridges at an estimated cost of $3.4 billion.
  • This compares to 6,395 bridges that needed work in 2018.

County Year Built Daily Crossings Type of Bridge Location
Douglas 1970 85,640 Urban freeway/expressway US75 over J St
Sarpy 1988 58,870 Urban freeway/expressway US75 over Stream
Sarpy 1989 38,095 Urban freeway/expressway US75 over Betz Creek
Douglas 1960 38,000 Urban other principal arterial 42nd St/FAU 5057 over UPRR 816-825-N
Douglas 1960 38,000 Urban other principal arterial 42nd St/FAU 5057 over UPRR 191-593-U
Sarpy 1995 30,705 Urban freeway/expressway N370 over Papillion Creek Trib
Douglas 1962 24,360 Urban other principal arterial US275/N92 over 72nd Street
Lancaster 1992 19,480 Urban other principal arterial N2/Van Dorn St over US-77
Lancaster 1968 19,370 Urban minor arterial N 14th St/FAU 5227 over Oak Creek
Lancaster 1961 19,190 Urban minor arterial 14th St over US6
Dakota 1977 14,995 Urban Interstate I129/US275 over Crystal Lake
Dakota 1977 14,995 Urban Interstate I129/US75 over Crystal Lake
Platte 1931 14,395 Rural arterial WB-US30/US81 over Loup River
Lancaster 1936 11,505 Urban other principal arterial US6 over Up/BNSF RR 815-574-T
Douglas 1938 11,100 Urban other principal arterial N31 over Park/Papio/Up 816-853-S
Dodge 1994 9,570 Urban minor arterial Bell St over UPRR 191-707-E
Dodge 1954 9,535 Rural arterial US77 over Elm Creek
Sarpy 1984 9,470 Rural major collector 36th St/Fas 5061 over Papillion Creek
Douglas 1977 8,730 Urban minor arterial Hamiltn St/Fau5066 over US75
Dodge 1970 8,310 Rural arterial US30 over Fremont Co Drain Ditch
Madison 1968 8,130 Urban other principal arterial Norflk Ave/FAU6020 over N Fk Elkhorn River
Douglas 1942 7,955 Rural arterial N92 over Stream
Cuming 1935 7,920 Rural arterial US275 over Wortmans Creek
Lancaster 1972 6,605 Urban collector Huntington Ave over Dead Mans Run
Cass 1957 6,570 Rural minor arterial N50 over BNSF RR 073-015-R
Type of Bridge Number of Bridges Area of All Bridges
(sq. meters)
Daily Crossings on All Bridges Number of Structurally Deficient Bridges Area of Structurally Deficient Bridges
(sq. meters)
Daily Crossings on Structurally Deficient Bridges
Rural Interstate 193 139,663 4,144,194 0 0 0
Rural arterial 832 484,904 3,922,270 26 11,152 121,955
Rural minor arterial 1,269 470,844 2,235,605 36 27,315 65,405
Rural major collector 2,356 674,172 1,506,026 100 31,731 57,229
Rural minor collector 1,205 211,942 173,769 67 8,753 6,638
Rural local road 8,523 1,133,969 576,406 959 91,578 38,131
Urban Interstate 135 373,777 10,653,010 2 5,533 29,990
Urban freeway/expressway 138 238,284 4,722,165 4 1,648 213,310
Urban other principal arterial 185 310,783 3,194,302 8 14,755 152,878
Urban minor arterial 193 216,535 2,138,399 8 8,149 64,580
Urban collector 104 80,545 606,019 5 3,452 18,370
Urban local road 203 59,169 238,357 5 1,666 4,110
Total 15,336 4,394,586 34,110,522 1,220 205,732 772,596
Type of Work Number of Bridges Cost to Repair
(in millions)
Daily Crossings Area of Bridges
(sq. meters)
Bridge replacement 3,281 $1,716 1,417,603 636,374
Widening & rehabilitation 2,801 $1,425 5,451,644 843,909
Rehabilitation 175 $91 438,190 51,400
Deck rehabilitation/replacement 6 $10 83,321 6,554
Other structural work 58 $120 832,979 79,005
Total 6,321 $3,362 8,223,737 1,617,243

About the data:

Data and cost estimates are from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) National Bridge Inventory (NBI), downloaded on February 1, 2023. Note that specific conditions on bridges may have changed as a result of recent work or updated inspections.

Effective January 1, 2018, FHWA changed the definition of structurally deficient as part of the final rule on highway and bridge performance measures, published May 20, 2017 pursuant to the 2012 federal aid highway bill Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21). Two measures that were previously used to classify bridges as structurally deficient are no longer used. This includes bridges where the overall structural evaluation was rated in poor or worse condition, or where the adequacy of waterway openings was insufficient.

The new definition limits the classification to bridges where one of the key structural elements—the deck, superstructure, substructure or culverts, are rated in poor or worse condition. During inspection, the conditions of a variety of bridge elements are rated on a scale of 0 (failed condition) to 9 (excellent condition). A rating of 4 is considered “poor” condition.

Cost estimates have been derived by ARTBA, based on 2021 average bridge replacement costs for structures on and off the National Highway System, published by FHWA. Bridge rehabilitation costs are estimated to be 68 percent of replacement costs. A bridge is considered to need repair if the structure has identified repairs as part of the NBI, a repair cost estimate is supplied by the bridge owner or the bridge is classified as structurally deficient. Please note that for a few states, the number of bridges needing to be repaired can vary significantly from year to year, and reflects the data entered by the state.

Bridges are classified by FHWA into types based on the functional classification of the roadway on the bridge. Interstates comprise routes officially designated by the Secretary of Transportation. Other principal arterials serve major centers of urban areas or provide mobility through rural areas. Freeways and expressways have directional lanes generally separated by a physical barrier, and access/egress points generally limited to on- and off-ramps. Minor arterials serve smaller areas and are used for trips of moderate length. Collectors funnel traffic from local roads to the arterial network; major collectors have higher speed limits and traffic volumes and are longer in length and spaced at greater intervals, while minor collectors are shorter and provide service to smaller communities. Local roads do not carry through traffic and are intended for short distance travel.

16
Compared to 16 in 2021

in the nation in % of structurally deficient bridges

1. West Virginia 20.0%
15. Massachusetts 9.0%
16. Nebraska 8.0%
17. Alaska 8.0%

14
Compared to 12 in 2021

in the nation in # of structurally deficient bridges

1. Iowa 4,604
13. Ohio 1,223
14. Nebraska 1,220
15. Mississippi 1,097

29
Compared to 27 in 2021

in the nation in % of structurally deficient bridge deck area

1. Rhode Island 17.0%
28. Kentucky 5.0%
29. Nebraska 5.0%
30. South Carolina 5.0%
Full State Ranking

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  • Source: Data is from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) National Bridge Inventory (NBI), downloaded on February 1, 2023. Note that specific conditions on bridges may have changed as a result of recent work or updated inspections.

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