CR 38

over S FORK MIAMI RIVER

.03 M S OF CR 98, Logan County, Ohio

Condition

Good

Year Built

1900

Daily Traffic

643

Length

11 ft

About This Bridge

CR 38 carries traffic over S FORK MIAMI RIVER in Logan County, Ohio. Built in 1900, this structure is 126 years old, making it a historic structure that has served the community for generations. The bridge features wood or timber construction with a truss - thru design, a combination chosen by engineers to meet the specific requirements of this crossing.

Approximately 643 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 7% of all crossings. This proportion of commercial traffic is typical for this roadway classification and is factored into the bridge's design load ratings.

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 11 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.

Condition Ratings

9

Deck Condition

Excellent

9

Superstructure

Excellent

9

Substructure

Excellent

9

Channel & Protection

Excellent

9

Lowest Rating

Determines condition category

NBI condition ratings range from 0 (failed) to 9 (excellent). Ratings of 4 or below are considered poor. The overall condition category is determined by the lowest individual component rating.

With a lowest rating of 9, this bridge demonstrates excellent condition with no problems noted.

For a structure built in 1900, maintaining good condition demonstrates effective maintenance practices.

Bridge Details

Wood or Timber is the primary structural material, which influences maintenance requirements and expected lifespan. The truss - thru design was selected based on span requirements, load capacity needs, and site conditions at the time of construction. Maintenance responsibility falls to County Highway Agency.

Construction

Year Built1900
Year Reconstructed2002
MaterialWood or Timber
Design TypeTruss - Thru
OwnerCounty Highway Agency

Dimensions

Total Length11 ft (3.2 m)
Max Span9 ft (2.8 m)
Deck Width2 ft
Deck Area158 sq ft

Span dimensions affect structural design choices and load distribution. The deck area of 158 sq ft determines surface maintenance scope.

Classification

Route TypeCounty Road
Route NumberC0038
Lanes On Bridge1
Lanes Under Bridge

Status

Toll BridgeNo
Historical SignificanceEligible for NRHP
Scour CriticalNo
Detour Length5 mi (8 km)

Traffic Data

Traffic volume data helps engineers assess bridge wear patterns and plan maintenance schedules. Average Daily Traffic (ADT) counts are updated periodically and represent typical weekday usage.

643

Avg Daily Traffic (2015)

Vehicles per day crossing this bridge

7%

Truck Traffic

Commercial vehicle percentage

892

Projected Future ADT

Estimated future demand

This bridge carries approximately 643 vehicles per day, translating to roughly 234,695 crossings annually. Lower traffic volumes generally result in less structural wear over time.

Commercial trucks comprise 7% of traffic. Heavy vehicles cause disproportionate wear—a single fully loaded truck can have the impact of thousands of passenger cars on bridge deck surfaces.

Traffic projections estimate future volumes of 892 vehicles daily, a 39% increase from current levels. These projections inform capacity planning and potential upgrade requirements.

Load Ratings

Load ratings determine what weight this bridge can safely support. These values are critical for routing heavy vehicles and issuing overweight permits.

Operating Rating

1.9 tons

Maximum allowable load for special permits

Inventory Rating

1.0 tons

Load level for normal traffic

The operating rating of 1.9 tons represents the absolute maximum load this bridge can carry under controlled conditions with special permits. The inventory rating of 1.0 tons is the safe load limit for everyday traffic without restrictions. These relatively low ratings may result in posted weight limits or route restrictions for heavy vehicles.

5-Year Condition Trend

Stable

Condition has remained relatively stable since 2020

Data: 2020-2024 FHWA National Bridge Inventory

Location

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41.300000, -84.500000

Identification

Structure Number4633431
NBI IDOH-4633431
State FIPS39
County FIPS091

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Data Source: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) National Bridge Inventory 2024

Bridge inspection data is typically updated every 24 months. Conditions may have changed since the last inspection.

“Structurally deficient” does not mean a bridge is unsafe or likely to collapse. It indicates that one or more key structural elements are in poor or worse condition. Bridges are inspected regularly and may have load restrictions in place.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used for route clearance or vehicle weight decisions.

CR 38 over S FORK MIAMI RIVER | Ohio