FHWA NBI 2024 Inspection record Public-domain dataset

RTE 38

Carrying RTE 38 over ERIE BARGE CANAL

RTE.38 OVER CANAL, Cayuga, New York

Data updated May 2026

FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.

Fair
19 t Inventory load rating

Bridge Snapshot: RTE 38

The RTE 38 bridge in Cayuga, New York carries RTE 38 over ERIE BARGE CANAL. It was built in 1964, making it 62 years old today. The structure is built primarily of steel and spans 1 section, stretching 112.5 meters (369 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 2,481 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 6/9, superstructure at 5/9, substructure at 6/9. The weakest component sits in fair condition. None of this bridge's reported major components fall into the Poor condition range. Its NBI inventory load rating is 19.4 metric tons.

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

How RTE 38 compares

▼ 22.5
Load rating vs New York average (41.9 t)
Bottom 7%
Lower load rating than 93% of New York bridges
150
Bridges in Cayuga · 24 in Poor condition
RTE 38 19.4 t
New York average 41.9 t

Live comparison across New York.

Historical Sufficiency Rating

PlainBridge-computed
52.9 / 100 - historical 50–79.9 band
Structural adequacy /55
29.7
Serviceability /30
13.9
Essentiality /15
14.3
Special reductions
−5.0

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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
6/9
Fair (5–6)
Superstructure
5/9
Fair (5–6)
Substructure
6/9
Fair (5–6)
Inventory Load Rating
19.4 t
NBI inventory level (metric tons)
Overall Condition
Fair

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

Structural Details

Year Built
1964
Material
Steel
Number of Spans
1
Structure Length
112.5 m (369 ft)
Deck Width
10.1 m (33 ft)
Owner
State Highway Agency
Avg Daily Traffic
2,481 vehicles/day
Structure Number
000000004024330

Condition Analysis

  • The deck (driving surface) is in fair condition (6/9), with minor deterioration that may require routine maintenance.
  • The superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) rates fair at 5/9, minor deterioration that routine maintenance should address.
  • The substructure (piers and abutments) rates fair at 6/9, minor deterioration that routine maintenance should address.

How to read this record

This page shows what the last federal inspection recorded, not whether RTE 38 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 RTE 38 against other structures in Cayuga 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 38?

RTE 38 in Cayuga, New York has a deck rating of 6/9, superstructure rating of 5/9, and substructure rating of 6/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.

How often is RTE 38 inspected?

RTE 38'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 2,481 vehicles per day.

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

FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. RTE 38 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 RTE 38?

RTE 38 has an NBI inventory load rating of 19.4 metric tons.

Who is responsible for maintaining RTE 38?

RTE 38 is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.

How old is RTE 38 and does age affect safety?

RTE 38 was built in 1964, making it 62 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.