US281

US281 carries traffic over NIOBRARA RIVER in Holt County, Nebraska. Built in 2003, this structure is 23 years old, representing modern engineering and construction standards. The bridge features steel continuous construction with a stringer/multi-beam or girder design, a combination chosen by engineers to meet the specific requirements of this crossing.

Approximately 1,295 vehicles cross this bridge daily, indicating lower traffic volumes common for local roads and rural routes. While traffic is lighter, these bridges still serve essential community transportation needs. Commercial trucks account for 19% of all crossings. This heavy commercial usage significantly impacts structural wear, as a single fully-loaded truck can cause as much deck wear as thousands of passenger vehicles. Transportation planners factor this into maintenance scheduling and budget allocation.

The bridge is currently rated in good condition based on federal inspection criteria established by the Federal Highway Administration. The structure meets current safety standards for its designated use and load capacity. With a total length of 66 feet, this is a shorter span typical of local road crossings, often carrying traffic over small streams, drainage channels, or other roadways.

The construction materials used in this bridge were selected based on engineering requirements, cost considerations, and local conditions at the time of construction.

Federal law requires that all highway bridges be inspected at least every 24 months by qualified inspectors following the National Bridge Inspection Standards (NBIS). Some bridges with known issues or unusual characteristics may be inspected more frequently. Inspection data is reported to the National Bridge Inventory, a database maintained by the Federal Highway Administration that tracks the condition of all public highway bridges in the United States. This bridge data is sourced from that federal database and reflects the most recent available inspection results.