I-78 WB INNER RDWY
Carrying I-78 WB INNER RDWY over CONRAIL
2.3 M W OF NJTPK, Essex, New Jersey
Data updated May 2026
FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.
Bridge Snapshot: I-78 WB INNER RDWY
The I-78 WB INNER RDWY bridge in Essex, New Jersey carries I-78 WB INNER RDWY over CONRAIL. It was built in 1973, making it 53 years old today. The structure is built primarily of steel and spans 3 sections, stretching 71.6 meters (235 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 42,436 vehicles, placing it in the heavily-trafficked tier of New Jersey bridges. It is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.
The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 7/9, superstructure at 5/9, substructure at 5/9. The weakest component sits in fair condition. No reported major component scores in the Poor range under the current federal condition thresholds. Its NBI inventory load rating is 46.3 metric tons.
Sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for refresh cadence and NBI release vintage.
How I-78 WB INNER RDWY 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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
- 1973
- Material
- Steel
- Number of Spans
- 3
- Structure Length
- 71.6 m (235 ft)
- Deck Width
- 13.7 m (45 ft)
- Owner
- State Highway Agency
- Avg Daily Traffic
- 42,436 vehicles/day
- Structure Number
- 0723171
Location
Data Source
FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI).
FHWA NBI Program ↗Condition Analysis
- • The deck (driving surface) is in good condition (7/9), showing no significant deterioration.
- • 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 fair condition (5/9), with minor deterioration that may require routine maintenance.
How to read this record
This page shows what the last federal inspection recorded, not whether I-78 WB INNER RDWY 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 I-78 WB INNER RDWY 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 I-78 WB INNER RDWY?
I-78 WB INNER RDWY in Essex, New Jersey has a deck rating of 7/9, superstructure rating of 5/9, and substructure rating of 5/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.
How often is I-78 WB INNER RDWY inspected?
I-78 WB INNER RDWY'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 42,436 vehicles per day.
What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?
FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. I-78 WB INNER RDWY 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 I-78 WB INNER RDWY?
I-78 WB INNER RDWY has an NBI inventory load rating of 46.3 metric tons.
Who is responsible for maintaining I-78 WB INNER RDWY?
I-78 WB INNER RDWY is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.
How old is I-78 WB INNER RDWY and does age affect safety?
I-78 WB INNER RDWY was built in 1973, making it 53 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.