FHWA NBI 2024 Inspection record Public-domain dataset

PENN AVENUE

Carrying PENN AVENUE over MAIDEN CREEK

PENN AVENUE, Berks, Pennsylvania

Data updated May 2026

FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.

Poor

Bridge Snapshot: PENN AVENUE

The PENN AVENUE bridge in Berks, Pennsylvania carries PENN AVENUE over MAIDEN CREEK. It was built in 1922, making it 104 years old today. The structure is built primarily of concrete and spans 5 sections, stretching 68.6 meters (225 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 100 vehicles, placing it in the lower-traffic tier of Pennsylvania bridges. It is owned and maintained by City/Municipal Highway Agency.

The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 4/9, superstructure at 0/9, substructure at 1/9. The weakest component sits in critical condition. At least one major component here scores 4 or below, which produces a Poor condition classification under FHWA's current reporting rules.

Sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for refresh cadence and NBI release vintage.

How PENN AVENUE compares

187
Bridges in Berks · 18 in Poor condition

Live comparison across Pennsylvania.

Historical Sufficiency Rating

PlainBridge-computed
23.4 / 100 - historical 20–49.9 band
Structural adequacy /55
0.0
Serviceability /30
8.5
Essentiality /15
14.9
Special reductions
0

FHWA discontinued this calculated item; it does not determine current condition, funding eligibility, posting, or closure. How the historical reference is calculated.

Condition Ratings

Deck
4/9
Poor (1–4)
Superstructure
0/9
Failed (0)
Substructure
1/9
Poor (1–4)
Overall Condition
Poor

Full 0–9 scale + sufficiency-rating breakdown: how condition ratings work.

Structural Details

Year Built
1922
Material
Concrete
Number of Spans
5
Structure Length
68.6 m (225 ft)
Deck Width
11.4 m (37 ft)
Owner
City/Municipal Highway Agency
Avg Daily Traffic
100 vehicles/day
Structure Number
000000000005496

Condition Analysis

  • The deck (driving surface) rates poor at 4/9, advanced deterioration that should be prioritized for repair.
  • The superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) is in critical condition (0/9), with severe deterioration requiring urgent attention.
  • The substructure (piers and abutments) rates critical at 1/9, severe deterioration that needs urgent attention.

How to read this record

PENN AVENUE is in the federal Poor condition category. That is a component-based result, not a closure order.

  • NBI condition ratings reflect the latest record in this annual dataset, not a live status. Current routine inspection intervals are risk-based.
  • Understand what Poor condition does and does not mean before drawing conclusions. Poor condition explained
  • Compare PENN AVENUE against other structures in Berks and across Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania 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 PENN AVENUE?

PENN AVENUE in Berks, Pennsylvania has a deck rating of 4/9, superstructure rating of 0/9, and substructure rating of 1/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.

How often is PENN AVENUE inspected?

PENN AVENUE'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 100 vehicles per day.

What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?

FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. PENN AVENUE is currently shown as Poor condition from its component ratings; that category is not a live closure or safety decision.

What is the inventory load rating for PENN AVENUE?

An inventory load rating is not recorded for PENN AVENUE.

Who is responsible for maintaining PENN AVENUE?

PENN AVENUE is owned and maintained by City/Municipal Highway Agency.

How old is PENN AVENUE and does age affect safety?

PENN AVENUE was built in 1922, making it 104 years old.

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.

Data sourced from the Federal Highway Administration National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainBridges

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.