PA 281
Carrying PA 281 over EAST BR COXES CREEK
NE of 4055\281 INTERSECT, Somerset, Pennsylvania
Data updated May 2026
FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.
Bridge Snapshot: PA 281
The PA 281 bridge in Somerset, Pennsylvania carries PA 281 over EAST BR COXES CREEK. It was built in 1989, making it 37 years old today. It was last reconstructed in 2017, extending its service life. The structure is built primarily of concrete and spans 2 sections, stretching 11.3 meters (37 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 7,028 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 culvert at 6/9. The weakest component sits in fair condition. All reported major components score above the Poor range. Its NBI inventory load rating is 44.5 metric tons.
Sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for refresh cadence and NBI release vintage.
How PA 281 compares
Live comparison across Pennsylvania.
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
- 1989
- Last Reconstructed
- 2017
- Material
- Concrete
- Number of Spans
- 2
- Structure Length
- 11.3 m (37 ft)
- Deck Width
- 18.0 m (59 ft)
- Owner
- State Highway Agency
- Avg Daily Traffic
- 7,028 vehicles/day
- Structure Number
- 000000000031440
Location
Data Source
FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI).
FHWA NBI Program ↗How to read this record
This page shows what the last federal inspection recorded, not whether PA 281 is safe to cross today. Here is how to use it.
- NBI condition ratings reflect the latest record in this annual dataset, not a live status. Current routine inspection intervals are risk-based.
- Learn how the 0–9 condition scale and Good/Fair/Poor categories are defined. How condition ratings work
- Compare PA 281 against other structures in Somerset 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 PA 281?
PA 281 in Somerset, Pennsylvania on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.
How often is PA 281 inspected?
PA 281'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 7,028 vehicles per day.
What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?
FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. PA 281 is currently shown as Fair condition from its component ratings; that category is not a live closure or safety decision.
What is the inventory load rating for PA 281?
PA 281 has an NBI inventory load rating of 44.5 metric tons.
Who is responsible for maintaining PA 281?
PA 281 is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.
How old is PA 281 and does age affect safety?
PA 281 was built in 1989, making it 37 years old and last reconstructed in 2017.
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.