FHWA NBI 2024 Inspection record Public-domain dataset

NORTHBROOK ROAD

Carrying NORTHBROOK ROAD over W. BR. BRANDYWINE CREEK

N. OF RTE. 842 39J4, Chester, Pennsylvania

Data updated May 2026

FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.

Poor
43 t Inventory load rating

Bridge Snapshot: NORTHBROOK ROAD

The NORTHBROOK ROAD bridge in Chester, Pennsylvania carries NORTHBROOK ROAD over W. BR. BRANDYWINE CREEK. It was built in 1953, making it 73 years old today. It was last reconstructed in 1974, extending its service life. The structure is built primarily of steel and spans 1 section, stretching 31.1 meters (102 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 2,064 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 6/9, superstructure at 5/9, substructure at 4/9. The weakest component sits in poor condition. A component scored 4 or below, placing this bridge in the federal Poor condition category rather than declaring it unsafe or closed. Its NBI inventory load rating is 42.6 metric tons.

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

How NORTHBROOK ROAD compares

▲ 3.3
Load rating vs Pennsylvania average (39.3 t)
Top 33%
Higher load rating than 67% of Pennsylvania bridges
285
Bridges in Chester · 25 in Poor condition
NORTHBROOK ROAD 42.6 t
Pennsylvania average 39.3 t

Live comparison across Pennsylvania.

Historical Sufficiency Rating

PlainBridge-computed
49.8 / 100 - historical 20–49.9 band
Structural adequacy /55
30.0
Serviceability /30
8.3
Essentiality /15
11.6
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
6/9
Fair (5–6)
Superstructure
5/9
Fair (5–6)
Substructure
4/9
Poor (1–4)
Inventory Load Rating
42.6 t
NBI inventory level (metric tons)
Overall Condition
Poor

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

Structural Details

Year Built
1953
Last Reconstructed
1974
Material
Steel
Number of Spans
1
Structure Length
31.1 m (102 ft)
Deck Width
4.7 m (15 ft)
Owner
State Highway Agency
Avg Daily Traffic
2,064 vehicles/day
Structure Number
000000000010469

Condition Analysis

  • The deck (driving surface) rates fair at 6/9, minor deterioration that routine maintenance should address.
  • The superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) rates fair at 5/9, minor deterioration that routine maintenance should address.
  • At 4/9, the substructure (piers and abutments) is in poor shape, with advanced wear flagged for priority repair.

How to read this record

NORTHBROOK 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 NORTHBROOK 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 NORTHBROOK ROAD?

NORTHBROOK ROAD in Chester, Pennsylvania has a deck rating of 6/9, superstructure rating of 5/9, and substructure rating of 4/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.

How often is NORTHBROOK ROAD inspected?

NORTHBROOK 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 2,064 vehicles per day.

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

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

NORTHBROOK ROAD has an NBI inventory load rating of 42.6 metric tons.

Who is responsible for maintaining NORTHBROOK ROAD?

NORTHBROOK ROAD is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.

How old is NORTHBROOK ROAD and does age affect safety?

NORTHBROOK ROAD was built in 1953, making it 73 years old and last reconstructed in 1974.

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.