FHWA NBI 2024 Inspection record Public-domain dataset

WATER STREET ROAD

Carrying WATER STREET ROAD over BRANCH SKIPPACK CREEK

NW OF 363 21C8/3142H10, Montgomery, Pennsylvania

Data updated May 2026

FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.

Poor
33 t Inventory load rating

Bridge Snapshot: WATER STREET ROAD

The WATER STREET ROAD bridge in Montgomery, Pennsylvania carries WATER STREET ROAD over BRANCH SKIPPACK CREEK. It was built in 1932, making it 94 years old today. The structure is built primarily of steel and spans 1 section, stretching 7.9 meters (26 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 1,194 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 4/9. 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 32.7 metric tons.

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

How WATER STREET ROAD compares

▼ 6.6
Load rating vs Pennsylvania average (39.3 t)
Bottom 22%
Lower load rating than 78% of Pennsylvania bridges
608
Bridges in Montgomery · 60 in Poor condition
WATER STREET ROAD 32.7 t
Pennsylvania average 39.3 t

Live comparison across Pennsylvania.

Historical Sufficiency Rating

PlainBridge-computed
51.3 / 100 - historical 50–79.9 band
Structural adequacy /55
30.0
Serviceability /30
10.0
Essentiality /15
14.3
Special reductions
−3.0

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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
4/9
Poor (1–4)
Inventory Load Rating
32.7 t
NBI inventory level (metric tons)
Overall Condition
Poor

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

Structural Details

Year Built
1932
Material
Steel
Number of Spans
1
Structure Length
7.9 m (26 ft)
Deck Width
8.5 m (28 ft)
Owner
State Highway Agency
Avg Daily Traffic
1,194 vehicles/day
Structure Number
000000000027783

Condition Analysis

  • At 5/9, the deck (driving surface) shows fair condition, with minor wear flagged for upkeep.
  • At 4/9, the superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) is in poor shape, with advanced wear flagged for priority repair.
  • At 4/9, the substructure (piers and abutments) is in poor shape, with advanced wear flagged for priority repair.

How to read this record

WATER STREET 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 WATER STREET ROAD against other structures in Montgomery 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 WATER STREET ROAD?

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

How often is WATER STREET ROAD inspected?

WATER STREET 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 1,194 vehicles per day.

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

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

WATER STREET ROAD has an NBI inventory load rating of 32.7 metric tons.

Who is responsible for maintaining WATER STREET ROAD?

WATER STREET ROAD is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.

How old is WATER STREET ROAD and does age affect safety?

WATER STREET ROAD was built in 1932, making it 94 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.