RTE 5
Carrying RTE 5 over ABD BUFFALO CREEK RR
2.4 MI S JCT SH 5 & SH 16, Erie, New York
Data updated May 2026
FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.
Bridge Snapshot: RTE 5
The RTE 5 bridge in Erie, New York carries RTE 5 over ABD BUFFALO CREEK RR. It was built in 1965, making it 61 years old today. It was last reconstructed in 1991, extending its service life. The structure is built primarily of steel and spans 3 sections, stretching 65.5 meters (215 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 40,588 vehicles, placing it in the heavily-trafficked tier of New York bridges. It is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.
The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 6/9, superstructure at 6/9, substructure at 4/9. 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 36.3 metric tons.
Sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for refresh cadence and NBI release vintage.
How RTE 5 compares
Live comparison across New York.
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
- 1965
- Last Reconstructed
- 1991
- Material
- Steel
- Number of Spans
- 3
- Structure Length
- 65.5 m (215 ft)
- Deck Width
- 20.5 m (67 ft)
- Owner
- State Highway Agency
- Avg Daily Traffic
- 40,588 vehicles/day
- Structure Number
- 000000001001559
Location
Data Source
FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI).
FHWA NBI Program ↗Condition Analysis
- • The deck (driving surface) is in fair condition (6/9), with minor deterioration that may require routine maintenance.
- • At 6/9, the superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) shows fair condition, with minor wear flagged for upkeep.
- • The substructure (piers and abutments) rates poor at 4/9, advanced deterioration that should be prioritized for repair.
How to read this record
RTE 5 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 RTE 5 against other structures in Erie and across New York. New York 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 RTE 5?
RTE 5 in Erie, New York has a deck rating of 6/9, superstructure rating of 6/9, and substructure rating of 4/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.
How often is RTE 5 inspected?
RTE 5'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 40,588 vehicles per day.
What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?
FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. RTE 5 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 RTE 5?
RTE 5 has an NBI inventory load rating of 36.3 metric tons.
Who is responsible for maintaining RTE 5?
RTE 5 is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.
How old is RTE 5 and does age affect safety?
RTE 5 was built in 1965, making it 61 years old and last reconstructed in 1991.
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.