Local over Bear Creek

Fair

Dallas County, Iowa · 078283002 · Structure no. 000000000131361

Built: 1999; 26 years old
Condition: Fair; inspected November 2023
Type: Slab; Concrete Continuous
Length: 128 ft; 3 main spans
Daily traffic: 247; 2022 count
Owner: County; County Highway Agency

About this bridge

Local over Bear Creek is a concrete continuous slab carrying Local over Bear Creek in Dallas County, Iowa. It was built in 1999, so it is 26 years old, younger than the Iowa average of 45.5 years.

The most recent inspection reported to the Federal Highway Administration rates it in fair condition with a lowest component rating of 6 out of 9. The lowest-rated primary component is rated 5 or 6. Minor deterioration is present but the structure is sound.

It carries about 247 vehicles a day, roughly 5% of them trucks, projected to reach 247 by 2043. The structure is 128 ft (39 m) long and 33 ft wide. If it were closed, the detour would be 3.7 mi (6 km).

Location

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CarriesLocal

CrossesBear Creek

Location078283002

RouteCounty Highway 0

CountyDallas County

StateIowa

Coordinates41.52424, -94.12739

Functional classRural Local

Condition and inspection

Fair

The lowest-rated primary component is rated 5 or 6. Minor deterioration is present but the structure is sound.

Component	Rating	Meaning
Deck	7 Good	Some minor problems.
Superstructure	8 Very Good	No problems noted.
Substructure	6 Satisfactory	Structural elements show some minor deterioration.
Channel and channel protection	7 Good	Some minor problems.

Last inspectionNovember 2023

Inspection intervalevery 48 months

Operating statusOpen, no restriction

ScourFoundations stable; scour above top of footing

Structural evaluation6: Equal to present minimum criteria

Deck geometry6: Equal to present minimum criteria

Waterway adequacy8: Equal to present desirable criteria

Approach roadway alignment7: Better than present minimum criteria

Operating rating97.6 US tons

Inventory rating58.3 US tons

Structure

Structure typeSlab

MaterialConcrete Continuous

DeckConcrete, cast-in-place

Main spans3

Design loadHS 20

Structure length128 ft (39 m)

Longest span49 ft (14.9 m)

Deck width33 ft (10.1 m)

Roadway width31 ft (9.3 m)

Vertical clearance over deckUnrestricted

Traffic and service

Average daily traffic247 (2022)

Projected traffic247 by 2043

Trucks5%

Lanes on structure2

Traffic directionTwo-way traffic

CarriesHighway

CrossesWaterway

Detour if closed3.7 mi (6 km)

TollOn a free road

National Highway SystemNo

Ownership and planned work

OwnerCounty Highway Agency

Maintained byCounty Highway Agency

Historic statusNot eligible for the National Register of Historic Places

Work proposedOther structural work, including hydraulic replacements

Estimated improvement cost—

NavigationNo navigation control on waterway

Frequently asked questions

When was Local over Bear Creek built?

It was built in 1999, making it 26 years old in 2025.

What condition is Local over Bear Creek in?

The National Bridge Inventory rates it in fair condition. The lowest-rated primary component is rated 5 or 6. Minor deterioration is present but the structure is sound. The last reported inspection was in November 2023.

How much traffic does Local over Bear Creek carry?

About 247 vehicles per day (2022 count), of which roughly 5% are trucks.

How long is Local over Bear Creek?

The structure is 128 ft (39 m) long with a longest span of 49 ft (14.9 m) and a deck 33 ft wide.

Who owns Local over Bear Creek?

It is owned by the County Highway Agency.