RTE 96B
Carrying RTE 96B over TRB BUTTERMILK CK
5.6 MI NW TIOGA CL-SH 96B, Tompkins, New York
Data updated May 2026
FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.
Bridge Snapshot: RTE 96B
The RTE 96B bridge in Tompkins, New York carries RTE 96B over TRB BUTTERMILK CK. It was built in 1929, making it 97 years old today. It was last reconstructed in 1967, extending its service life. The structure is built primarily of steel and spans 1 section, stretching 13.4 meters (44 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 4,493 vehicles, placing it in the moderately-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 4/9, superstructure at 5/9, substructure at 5/9. 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 27.5 metric tons.
Sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for refresh cadence and NBI release vintage.
How RTE 96B 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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
- 1929
- Last Reconstructed
- 1967
- Material
- Steel
- Number of Spans
- 1
- Structure Length
- 13.4 m (44 ft)
- Deck Width
- 16.5 m (54 ft)
- Owner
- State Highway Agency
- Avg Daily Traffic
- 4,493 vehicles/day
- Structure Number
- 000000001035310
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.
- • At 5/9, the substructure (piers and abutments) shows fair condition, with minor wear flagged for upkeep.
How to read this record
RTE 96B 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 96B against other structures in Tompkins 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 96B?
RTE 96B in Tompkins, New York has a deck rating of 4/9, superstructure rating of 5/9, and substructure rating of 5/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.
How often is RTE 96B inspected?
RTE 96B'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 4,493 vehicles per day.
What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?
FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. RTE 96B 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 96B?
RTE 96B has an NBI inventory load rating of 27.5 metric tons.
Who is responsible for maintaining RTE 96B?
RTE 96B is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.
How old is RTE 96B and does age affect safety?
RTE 96B was built in 1929, making it 97 years old and last reconstructed in 1967.
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.