US Bridges

Shorts Road over Nottawa Creek

Fair

St. Joseph County, Michigan · 7 MI N of Colon · Structure no. 000000000010386

Built
1967
58 years old
Condition
Fair
inspected November 2023
Type
Slab
Wood or Timber
Length
66 ft
3 main spans
Daily traffic
177
2003 count
Owner
County
County Highway Agency

About this bridge

Shorts Road over Nottawa Creek is a wood or timber slab carrying Shorts Road over Nottawa Creek in St. Joseph County, Michigan. It was built in 1967, so it is 58 years old, older than the Michigan average of 48.3 years.

The most recent inspection reported to the Federal Highway Administration rates it in fair condition with a lowest component rating of 5 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 177 vehicles a day, roughly 5% of them trucks, projected to reach 250 by 2023. The structure is 66 ft (20.1 m) long and 30 ft wide. If it were closed, the detour would be 3.1 mi (5 km).

Location

Open in Google Maps
CarriesShorts Road
CrossesNottawa Creek
Location7 MI N of Colon
RouteCounty Highway 0
CountySt. Joseph County
StateMichigan
Coordinates42.0551, -85.30813
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.

ComponentRatingMeaning
Deck5 FairAll primary structural elements are sound but may have minor section loss, cracking, spalling or scour.
Superstructure5 FairAll primary structural elements are sound but may have minor section loss, cracking, spalling or scour.
Substructure5 FairAll primary structural elements are sound but may have minor section loss, cracking, spalling or scour.
Channel and channel protection6 SatisfactoryStructural elements show some minor deterioration.
Last inspectionNovember 2023
Inspection intervalevery 24 months
Operating statusOpen, no restriction
ScourFoundations stable; scour within limits of footing or piles
Structural evaluation5: Somewhat better than minimum adequacy to tolerate being left in place as is
Deck geometry6: Equal to present minimum criteria
Waterway adequacy6: Equal to present minimum criteria
Approach roadway alignment3: Basically intolerable, requiring high priority of corrective action
Operating rating58.4 US tons
Inventory rating41.9 US tons

Structure

Structure typeSlab
MaterialWood or Timber
DeckWood or timber
Main spans3
Design loadH 20
Structure length66 ft (20.1 m)
Longest span22 ft (6.7 m)
Deck width30 ft (9.2 m)
Roadway width30 ft (9.1 m)
Vertical clearance over deckUnrestricted

Traffic and service

Average daily traffic177 (2003)
Projected traffic250 by 2023
Trucks5%
Lanes on structure2
Traffic directionTwo-way traffic
CarriesHighway
CrossesWaterway
Detour if closed3.1 mi (5 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 proposedNone recorded
Estimated improvement cost—
NavigationNo navigation control on waterway

Frequently asked questions

When was Shorts Road over Nottawa Creek built?

It was built in 1967, making it 58 years old in 2025.

What condition is Shorts Road over Nottawa 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 Shorts Road over Nottawa Creek carry?

About 177 vehicles per day (2003 count), of which roughly 5% are trucks.

How long is Shorts Road over Nottawa Creek?

The structure is 66 ft (20.1 m) long with a longest span of 22 ft (6.7 m) and a deck 30 ft wide.

Who owns Shorts Road over Nottawa Creek?

It is owned by the County Highway Agency.