FHWA NBI 2024 Inspection record Public-domain dataset

PR 52

Carrying PR 52 over PORTUGUES RIVER

1 KM SOUTH OF PONCE, Ponce, Puerto Rico

Data updated May 2026

FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.

Poor
59 t Inventory load rating

Bridge Snapshot: PR 52

The PR 52 bridge in Ponce, Puerto Rico carries PR 52 over PORTUGUES RIVER. It was built in 1996, making it 30 years old today. The structure is built primarily of prestressed concrete and spans 10 sections, stretching 335.0 meters (1099 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 18,800 vehicles, placing it in the heavily-trafficked tier of Puerto Rico bridges. It is owned and maintained by State Toll Authority.

The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 4/9, superstructure at 7/9, substructure at 7/9. 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 58.5 metric tons.

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

How PR 52 compares

▲ 22.4
Load rating vs Puerto Rico average (36.1 t)
Top 13%
Higher load rating than 87% of Puerto Rico bridges
123
Bridges in Ponce · 16 in Poor condition
PR 52 58.5 t
Puerto Rico average 36.1 t

Live comparison across Puerto Rico.

Historical Sufficiency Rating

PlainBridge-computed
90.1 / 100 - historical 80–100 band
Structural adequacy /55
55.0
Serviceability /30
22.0
Essentiality /15
13.1
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
7/9
Good (7–9)
Substructure
7/9
Good (7–9)
Inventory Load Rating
58.5 t
NBI inventory level (metric tons)
Overall Condition
Poor

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

Structural Details

Year Built
1996
Material
Prestressed Concrete
Number of Spans
10
Structure Length
335.0 m (1099 ft)
Deck Width
34.2 m (112 ft)
Owner
State Toll Authority
Avg Daily Traffic
18,800 vehicles/day
Structure Number
022691

Condition Analysis

  • The deck (driving surface) rates poor at 4/9, advanced deterioration that should be prioritized for repair.
  • At 7/9, the superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) is in good shape and shows no significant wear.
  • At 7/9, the substructure (piers and abutments) is in good shape and shows no significant wear.

How to read this record

PR 52 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 PR 52 against other structures in Ponce and across Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico 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 PR 52?

PR 52 in Ponce, Puerto Rico has a deck rating of 4/9, superstructure rating of 7/9, and substructure rating of 7/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.

How often is PR 52 inspected?

PR 52'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 18,800 vehicles per day.

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

FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. PR 52 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 PR 52?

PR 52 has an NBI inventory load rating of 58.5 metric tons.

Who is responsible for maintaining PR 52?

PR 52 is owned and maintained by State Toll Authority.

How old is PR 52 and does age affect safety?

PR 52 was built in 1996, making it 30 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.