FHWA NBI 2024 Inspection record Public-domain dataset

FORD MILL ROAD

Carrying FORD MILL ROAD over SMITH RIVER

.09 MI MASCOMA RD, Merrimack, New Hampshire

Data updated May 2026

FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.

Fair
9 t Inventory load rating

Bridge Snapshot: FORD MILL ROAD

The FORD MILL ROAD bridge in Merrimack, New Hampshire carries FORD MILL ROAD over SMITH RIVER. It was built in 1988, making it 38 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 90 vehicles, placing it in the lower-traffic tier of New Hampshire bridges. It is owned and maintained by City/Municipal Highway Agency.

The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 6/9, superstructure at 6/9, substructure at 7/9. The weakest component sits in fair condition. All reported major components score above the Poor range. Its NBI inventory load rating is 9.1 metric tons.

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

How FORD MILL ROAD compares

▼ 29.1
Load rating vs New Hampshire average (38.2 t)
Bottom 2%
Lower load rating than 98% of New Hampshire bridges
326
Bridges in Merrimack · 20 in Poor condition
FORD MILL ROAD 9.1 t
New Hampshire average 38.2 t

Live comparison across New Hampshire.

Historical Sufficiency Rating

PlainBridge-computed
52.3 / 100 - historical 50–79.9 band
Structural adequacy /55
18.4
Serviceability /30
22.0
Essentiality /15
14.9
Special reductions
−3.0

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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
6/9
Fair (5–6)
Substructure
7/9
Good (7–9)
Inventory Load Rating
9.1 t
NBI inventory level (metric tons)
Overall Condition
Fair

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

Structural Details

Year Built
1988
Material
Steel
Number of Spans
1
Structure Length
12.2 m (40 ft)
Deck Width
6.3 m (21 ft)
Owner
City/Municipal Highway Agency
Avg Daily Traffic
90 vehicles/day
Structure Number
005801160007500

Condition Analysis

  • At 6/9, the deck (driving surface) shows fair condition, with minor wear flagged for upkeep.
  • The superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) is in fair condition (6/9), with minor deterioration that may require routine maintenance.
  • At 7/9, the substructure (piers and abutments) is in good shape and shows no significant wear.

How to read this record

This page shows what the last federal inspection recorded, not whether FORD MILL ROAD 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 FORD MILL ROAD against other structures in Merrimack and across New Hampshire. New Hampshire 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 FORD MILL ROAD?

FORD MILL ROAD in Merrimack, New Hampshire has a deck rating of 6/9, superstructure rating of 6/9, and substructure rating of 7/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.

How often is FORD MILL ROAD inspected?

FORD MILL ROAD'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 90 vehicles per day.

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

FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. FORD MILL ROAD 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 FORD MILL ROAD?

FORD MILL ROAD has an NBI inventory load rating of 9.1 metric tons.

Who is responsible for maintaining FORD MILL ROAD?

FORD MILL ROAD is owned and maintained by City/Municipal Highway Agency.

How old is FORD MILL ROAD and does age affect safety?

FORD MILL ROAD was built in 1988, making it 38 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.