M-3 (GRATIOT AVE)
Carrying M-3 (GRATIOT AVE) over DEQUINDRE CUT
IN DETROIT, Wayne, Michigan
Data updated May 2026
FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.
Bridge Snapshot: M-3 (GRATIOT AVE)
The M-3 (GRATIOT AVE) bridge in Wayne, Michigan carries M-3 (GRATIOT AVE) over DEQUINDRE CUT. It was built in 1929, making it 97 years old today. It was last reconstructed in 1970, extending its service life. The structure is built primarily of steel and spans 2 sections, stretching 25.9 meters (85 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 19,649 vehicles, placing it in the heavily-trafficked tier of Michigan bridges. It is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.
The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 4/9, superstructure at 5/9, substructure at 6/9. The weakest component sits in poor condition. Because at least one major component scores 4 or lower, this bridge falls in FHWA's Poor condition category. That category is not a closure order. Its NBI inventory load rating is 35.3 metric tons.
Sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for refresh cadence and NBI release vintage.
How M-3 (GRATIOT AVE) compares
Live comparison across Michigan.
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
- 1929
- Last Reconstructed
- 1970
- Material
- Steel
- Number of Spans
- 2
- Structure Length
- 25.9 m (85 ft)
- Deck Width
- 36.5 m (120 ft)
- Owner
- State Highway Agency
- Avg Daily Traffic
- 19,649 vehicles/day
- Structure Number
- 000000000011326
Location
Data Source
FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI).
FHWA NBI Program ↗Condition Analysis
- • The deck (driving surface) is in poor condition (4/9), showing advanced deterioration that may require priority repair.
- • The superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) is in fair condition (5/9), with minor deterioration that may require routine maintenance.
- • The substructure (piers and abutments) is in fair condition (6/9), with minor deterioration that may require routine maintenance.
How to read this record
M-3 (GRATIOT AVE) 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 M-3 (GRATIOT AVE) against other structures in Wayne and across Michigan. Michigan 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 M-3 (GRATIOT AVE)?
M-3 (GRATIOT AVE) in Wayne, Michigan has a deck rating of 4/9, superstructure rating of 5/9, and substructure rating of 6/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.
How often is M-3 (GRATIOT AVE) inspected?
M-3 (GRATIOT AVE)'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 19,649 vehicles per day.
What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?
FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. M-3 (GRATIOT AVE) 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 M-3 (GRATIOT AVE)?
M-3 (GRATIOT AVE) has an NBI inventory load rating of 35.3 metric tons.
Who is responsible for maintaining M-3 (GRATIOT AVE)?
M-3 (GRATIOT AVE) is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.
How old is M-3 (GRATIOT AVE) and does age affect safety?
M-3 (GRATIOT AVE) was built in 1929, making it 97 years old and last reconstructed in 1970.
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.