LOWER RIVER RD
Carrying LOWER RIVER RD over BLACKSTONE CANAL
0.5 MI W of JCT RI 122, Providence, Rhode Island
Data updated May 2026
FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.
Bridge Snapshot: LOWER RIVER RD
The LOWER RIVER RD bridge in Providence, Rhode Island carries LOWER RIVER RD over BLACKSTONE CANAL. It was built in 1950, making it 76 years old today. It was last reconstructed in 1998, extending its service life. The structure is built primarily of steel and spans 1 section, stretching 12.2 meters (40 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 57 vehicles, placing it in the lower-traffic tier of Rhode Island bridges. It is owned and maintained by State Park/Forest/Reservation.
The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 7/9, superstructure at 8/9, substructure at 5/9. The weakest component sits in fair condition. All reported major components score above the Poor range. Its NBI inventory load rating is 33.4 metric tons.
Sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for refresh cadence and NBI release vintage.
How LOWER RIVER RD compares
Live comparison across Rhode Island.
Historical Sufficiency Rating
PlainBridge-computedFHWA discontinued this calculated item; it does not determine current condition, funding eligibility, posting, or closure. How the historical reference is calculated.
Condition Ratings
Full 0–9 scale + sufficiency-rating breakdown: how condition ratings work.
Structural Details
- Year Built
- 1950
- Last Reconstructed
- 1998
- Material
- Steel
- Number of Spans
- 1
- Structure Length
- 12.2 m (40 ft)
- Deck Width
- 7.6 m (25 ft)
- Owner
- State Park/Forest/Reservation
- Avg Daily Traffic
- 57 vehicles/day
- Structure Number
- 000000000001790
Location
Data Source
FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI).
FHWA NBI Program ↗Condition Analysis
- • The deck (driving surface) rates good at 7/9, with no significant deterioration on file.
- • At 8/9, the superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) is in good shape and shows no significant wear.
- • The substructure (piers and abutments) rates fair at 5/9, minor deterioration that routine maintenance should address.
How to read this record
This page shows what the last federal inspection recorded, not whether LOWER RIVER RD is safe to cross today. Here is how to use it.
- NBI condition ratings reflect the latest record in this annual dataset, not a live status. Current routine inspection intervals are risk-based.
- Learn how the 0–9 condition scale and Good/Fair/Poor categories are defined. How condition ratings work
- Compare LOWER RIVER RD against other structures in Providence and across Rhode Island. Rhode Island bridges
- Noticed visible damage or a safety concern? Report it to the agency that owns the bridge, or call 911 in an emergency. How to report a bridge
Condition codes come straight from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory and are not a real-time safety judgment. Only the owning agency, a state DOT, county, or other owner, can post, restrict, or close a bridge.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do the condition ratings mean for LOWER RIVER RD?
LOWER RIVER RD in Providence, Rhode Island has a deck rating of 7/9, superstructure rating of 8/9, and substructure rating of 5/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.
How often is LOWER RIVER RD inspected?
LOWER RIVER RD's responsible agency sets its routine interval under FHWA's risk-based inspection rules; this page does not expose the scheduled interval. It carries about 57 vehicles per day.
What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?
FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. LOWER RIVER RD is currently shown as Fair condition from its component ratings; that category is not a live closure or safety decision.
What is the inventory load rating for LOWER RIVER RD?
LOWER RIVER RD has an NBI inventory load rating of 33.4 metric tons.
Who is responsible for maintaining LOWER RIVER RD?
LOWER RIVER RD is owned and maintained by State Park/Forest/Reservation.
How old is LOWER RIVER RD and does age affect safety?
LOWER RIVER RD was built in 1950, making it 76 years old and last reconstructed in 1998.
Disclaimer: Bridge condition data is from the FHWA NBI and reflects the last reported inspection. A Poor condition rating is not a live declaration that a bridge is closed or unsafe for travel. For current closure, posting, or safety information, contact the responsible transportation agency.
Every figure on PlainBridge is rendered directly from federal source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.