CLAY STREET
Carrying CLAY STREET over PASSAIC RIVER
0.2 MI NE I-280&NJ21 JCT, Essex, New Jersey
Data updated May 2026
FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.
Bridge Snapshot: CLAY STREET
The CLAY STREET bridge in Essex, New Jersey carries CLAY STREET over PASSAIC RIVER. It was built in 1908, making it 118 years old today. It was last reconstructed in 1976, extending its service life. The structure is built primarily of steel and spans 2 sections, stretching 100.0 meters (328 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 21,490 vehicles, placing it in the heavily-trafficked tier of New Jersey bridges. It is owned and maintained by County Highway Agency.
The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 6/9, superstructure at 3/9, substructure at 5/9. The weakest component sits in poor condition. Because at least one major component scores 4 or lower, this bridge falls in FHWA's Poor condition category. That category is not a closure order. Its NBI inventory load rating is 10.0 metric tons.
Sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for refresh cadence and NBI release vintage.
How CLAY STREET compares
Live comparison across New Jersey.
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
- 1908
- Last Reconstructed
- 1976
- Material
- Steel
- Number of Spans
- 2
- Structure Length
- 100.0 m (328 ft)
- Deck Width
- 12.0 m (39 ft)
- Owner
- County Highway Agency
- Avg Daily Traffic
- 21,490 vehicles/day
- Structure Number
- 0700H01
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.
- • The superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) rates poor at 3/9, advanced deterioration that should be prioritized for repair.
- • The substructure (piers and abutments) is in fair condition (5/9), with minor deterioration that may require routine maintenance.
How to read this record
CLAY STREET 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 CLAY STREET against other structures in Essex and across New Jersey. New Jersey 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 CLAY STREET?
CLAY STREET in Essex, New Jersey has a deck rating of 6/9, superstructure rating of 3/9, and substructure rating of 5/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.
How often is CLAY STREET inspected?
CLAY STREET'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 21,490 vehicles per day.
What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?
FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. CLAY STREET 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 CLAY STREET?
CLAY STREET has an NBI inventory load rating of 10.0 metric tons.
Who is responsible for maintaining CLAY STREET?
CLAY STREET is owned and maintained by County Highway Agency.
How old is CLAY STREET and does age affect safety?
CLAY STREET was built in 1908, making it 118 years old and last reconstructed in 1976.
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.