Bad Bridges: Rutherford County
Nearly half of Rutherford County's bridges are rated as "structurally deficient" by the U.S. Federal Highway Administration.
Out of the county's 21 bridges, ten are in need of immediate repair. The bridge with the worst rating, located on Highway 96 west of the Royal Glen subdivision, was built in 1960. The remaining structurally deficient bridges were built between 1936 and 1969.
But the age of a bridge doesn't necessarily determine its condition. Rutherford County's 11 highest rated bridges also show some age, with completion dates ranging from 1928 to 1975. The best-rated bridge in the county, built in 1975, crosses the west fork of the Stones River, approximately seven miles south of Murfreesboro on Crescent Road.
Red markers on the interactive map below indicate the location for each of the ten bridges with the lowest ratings, ranging from 31.5 to 42.8 on a scale of 100. Black markers indicate bridges with the highest ratings, which range from 43.1 to 89.9.