FHWA NBI 2024 Inspection record Public-domain dataset

VALLEY ROAD

Carrying VALLEY ROAD over BUCK RUN

EAST OF PARKESBURG 27J09, Chester, Pennsylvania

Data updated May 2026

FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.

Poor
27 t Inventory load rating

Bridge Snapshot: VALLEY ROAD

The VALLEY ROAD bridge in Chester, Pennsylvania carries VALLEY ROAD over BUCK RUN. It was built in 1914, making it 112 years old today. The structure is built primarily of steel and spans 1 section, stretching 9.4 meters (31 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 6,452 vehicles, placing it in the moderately-trafficked tier of Pennsylvania bridges. It is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.

The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 5/9, superstructure at 4/9, substructure at 5/9. The weakest component sits in poor condition. At least one major component here scores 4 or below, which produces a Poor condition classification under FHWA's current reporting rules. Its NBI inventory load rating is 27.2 metric tons.

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

How VALLEY ROAD compares

▼ 12.1
Load rating vs Pennsylvania average (39.3 t)
Bottom 13%
Lower load rating than 87% of Pennsylvania bridges
285
Bridges in Chester · 25 in Poor condition
VALLEY ROAD 27.2 t
Pennsylvania average 39.3 t

Live comparison across Pennsylvania.

Historical Sufficiency Rating

PlainBridge-computed
39.6 / 100 - historical 20–49.9 band
Structural adequacy /55
26.1
Serviceability /30
7.0
Essentiality /15
6.5
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
5/9
Fair (5–6)
Superstructure
4/9
Poor (1–4)
Substructure
5/9
Fair (5–6)
Inventory Load Rating
27.2 t
NBI inventory level (metric tons)
Overall Condition
Poor

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

Structural Details

Year Built
1914
Material
Steel
Number of Spans
1
Structure Length
9.4 m (31 ft)
Deck Width
7.0 m (23 ft)
Owner
State Highway Agency
Avg Daily Traffic
6,452 vehicles/day
Structure Number
000000000010224

Condition Analysis

  • The deck (driving surface) is in fair condition (5/9), with minor deterioration that may require routine maintenance.
  • The superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) is in poor condition (4/9), showing advanced deterioration that may require priority repair.
  • The substructure (piers and abutments) is in fair condition (5/9), with minor deterioration that may require routine maintenance.

How to read this record

VALLEY ROAD 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 VALLEY ROAD against other structures in Chester 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 VALLEY ROAD?

VALLEY ROAD in Chester, Pennsylvania has a deck rating of 5/9, superstructure rating of 4/9, and substructure rating of 5/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.

How often is VALLEY ROAD inspected?

VALLEY ROAD'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 6,452 vehicles per day.

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

FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. VALLEY ROAD 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 VALLEY ROAD?

VALLEY ROAD has an NBI inventory load rating of 27.2 metric tons.

Who is responsible for maintaining VALLEY ROAD?

VALLEY ROAD is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.

How old is VALLEY ROAD and does age affect safety?

VALLEY ROAD was built in 1914, making it 112 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.