RTE 98
Carrying RTE 98 over ERIE CANAL
JCT S.H.98 & BARGE CANAL, Orleans, New York
Data updated May 2026
FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.
Bridge Snapshot: RTE 98
The RTE 98 bridge in Orleans, New York carries RTE 98 over ERIE CANAL. It was built in 1914, making it 112 years old today. It was last reconstructed in 1986, extending its service life. The structure is built primarily of steel and spans 1 section, stretching 42.1 meters (138 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 4,319 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 4/9, substructure at 6/9. 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.
Sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for refresh cadence and NBI release vintage.
How RTE 98 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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
- 1914
- Last Reconstructed
- 1986
- Material
- Steel
- Number of Spans
- 1
- Structure Length
- 42.1 m (138 ft)
- Deck Width
- 6.2 m (20 ft)
- Owner
- State Highway Agency
- Avg Daily Traffic
- 4,319 vehicles/day
- Structure Number
- 000000004445260
Location
Data Source
FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI).
FHWA NBI Program ↗Condition Analysis
- • At 6/9, 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.
- • The substructure (piers and abutments) is in fair condition (6/9), with minor deterioration that may require routine maintenance.
How to read this record
RTE 98 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 98 against other structures in Orleans 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 98?
RTE 98 in Orleans, New York has a deck rating of 6/9, superstructure rating of 4/9, and substructure rating of 6/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.
How often is RTE 98 inspected?
RTE 98'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 4,319 vehicles per day.
What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?
FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. RTE 98 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 98?
An inventory load rating is not recorded for RTE 98.
Who is responsible for maintaining RTE 98?
RTE 98 is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.
How old is RTE 98 and does age affect safety?
RTE 98 was built in 1914, making it 112 years old and last reconstructed in 1986.
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.