FHWA NBI 2024 Inspection record Public-domain dataset

BIA ROUTE 440

Carrying BIA ROUTE 440 over SAM AYERS STREAM

10.41KM NW OF ACCESS ROAD, Penobscot, Maine

Data updated May 2026

FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.

Poor
23 t Inventory load rating

Bridge Snapshot: BIA ROUTE 440

The BIA ROUTE 440 bridge in Penobscot, Maine carries BIA ROUTE 440 over SAM AYERS STREAM. It was built in 1998, making it 28 years old today. The structure is built primarily of steel and spans 1 section, stretching 7.0 meters (23 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 20 vehicles, placing it in the lower-traffic tier of Maine bridges. It is owned and maintained by Bureau of Indian Affairs.

The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 4/9, superstructure at 6/9, substructure at 3/9. 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 22.8 metric tons.

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

How BIA ROUTE 440 compares

▼ 17.4
Load rating vs Maine average (40.2 t)
Bottom 10%
Lower load rating than 90% of Maine bridges
63
Bridges in Penobscot · 11 in Poor condition
BIA ROUTE 440 22.8 t
Maine average 40.2 t

Live comparison across Maine.

Historical Sufficiency Rating

PlainBridge-computed
28.1 / 100 - historical 20–49.9 band
Structural adequacy /55
5.3
Serviceability /30
8.0
Essentiality /15
14.8
Special reductions
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
4/9
Poor (1–4)
Superstructure
6/9
Fair (5–6)
Substructure
3/9
Poor (1–4)
Inventory Load Rating
22.8 t
NBI inventory level (metric tons)
Overall Condition
Poor

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

Structural Details

Year Built
1998
Material
Steel
Number of Spans
1
Structure Length
7.0 m (23 ft)
Deck Width
5.6 m (18 ft)
Owner
Bureau of Indian Affairs
Avg Daily Traffic
20 vehicles/day
Structure Number
0000S50018B0021

Condition Analysis

  • The deck (driving surface) rates poor at 4/9, advanced deterioration that should be prioritized for repair.
  • The superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) rates fair at 6/9, minor deterioration that routine maintenance should address.
  • At 3/9, the substructure (piers and abutments) is in poor shape, with advanced wear flagged for priority repair.

How to read this record

BIA ROUTE 440 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 BIA ROUTE 440 against other structures in Penobscot and across Maine. Maine 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 BIA ROUTE 440?

BIA ROUTE 440 in Penobscot, Maine has a deck rating of 4/9, superstructure rating of 6/9, and substructure rating of 3/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.

How often is BIA ROUTE 440 inspected?

BIA ROUTE 440'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 20 vehicles per day.

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

FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. BIA ROUTE 440 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 BIA ROUTE 440?

BIA ROUTE 440 has an NBI inventory load rating of 22.8 metric tons.

Who is responsible for maintaining BIA ROUTE 440?

BIA ROUTE 440 is owned and maintained by Bureau of Indian Affairs.

How old is BIA ROUTE 440 and does age affect safety?

BIA ROUTE 440 was built in 1998, making it 28 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.