BIA ROUTE 421
Carrying BIA ROUTE 421 over E BR PASSADUMKEAG RIVER
7.89 KM SE LEE, ME, Penobscot, Maine
Data updated May 2026
FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.
Bridge Snapshot: BIA ROUTE 421
The BIA ROUTE 421 bridge in Penobscot, Maine carries BIA ROUTE 421 over E BR PASSADUMKEAG RIVER. It was built in 2007, making it 19 years old today. The structure is built primarily of steel and spans 1 section, stretching 12.2 meters (40 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 5/9, substructure at 7/9. 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 31.3 metric tons.
Sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for refresh cadence and NBI release vintage.
How BIA ROUTE 421 compares
Live comparison across Maine.
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
- 2007
- Material
- Steel
- Number of Spans
- 1
- Structure Length
- 12.2 m (40 ft)
- Deck Width
- 4.9 m (16 ft)
- Owner
- Bureau of Indian Affairs
- Avg Daily Traffic
- 20 vehicles/day
- Structure Number
- 0000S50018B0061
Location
Data Source
FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI).
FHWA NBI Program ↗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) is in fair condition (5/9), with minor deterioration that may require routine maintenance.
- • The substructure (piers and abutments) is in good condition (7/9), showing no significant deterioration.
How to read this record
BIA ROUTE 421 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 421 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 421?
BIA ROUTE 421 in Penobscot, Maine has a deck rating of 4/9, superstructure rating of 5/9, and substructure rating of 7/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.
How often is BIA ROUTE 421 inspected?
BIA ROUTE 421'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 421 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 421?
BIA ROUTE 421 has an NBI inventory load rating of 31.3 metric tons.
Who is responsible for maintaining BIA ROUTE 421?
BIA ROUTE 421 is owned and maintained by Bureau of Indian Affairs.
How old is BIA ROUTE 421 and does age affect safety?
BIA ROUTE 421 was built in 2007, making it 19 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.
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.