MOUNT VERNON — The Knox County engineer’s office has deemed 26 bridges in the county in poor condition.

The National Bridge Inspection Standards mandate that inspectors examine bridges every two years.

The Ohio Dept. of Transportation defines bridges in poor condition by specific parts of the structure. Like the U.S. rates the deck, superstructure, substructure, or culverts as being in poor or worse condition.

According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), it grades bridges on a 1 to 9 scale, with ‘9’ being in excellent condition and vice versa. Inspectors consider a rating of ‘4’ to indicate ‘poor’ condition or ‘structurally deficient.’

There are two general categories for structures based on span, county assistant engineer Jason Payne said.

Inspectors examine bridges regularly

Bridges with a span of 20 feet and greater fall under the standards and requirements of the FHWA, Payne said. Bridges with a span between 10 to 20 feet fall into the standards and requirements of the Ohio Department of Transportation.

“All of our bridges are inspected every 12 months with the exception of those that are rated ‘good’ and meet other specific criteria; those bridges are inspected every 24 months,” Payne said via email. “We contract with three separate consultants for our annual bridge inspections. In 2024, our contracts for inspections totaled $36,204.

“The cost of inspection varies based on the type and size of the bridge.”

In 2024, Knox County had two bridges in critical condition, 26 in poor condition, 124 in fair and 171 in good condition, totaling 323.

  • 2023: Two critical; 34 poor; 122 fair; 166 good
  • 2022: Two critical; 39 poor; 119 fair; 164 good
  • 2021: Two critical; 44 poor; 118 fair; 162 good
  • 2020: Two critical; 44 poor; 120 fair; 158 good

The two critical bridges are on Cook and Mile Creek Roads.

Payne said crews are designing the Cook Road bridge replacement, which they plan to complete next year. He also said officials closed the Mile Creek bridge a couple of years ago.