FHWA NBI 2024 Inspection record Public-domain dataset

I-280 Eastbound

Carrying I-280 Eastbound over Proposed Essex CO.PK.RD

0.05MI E OF 280-Pass R JT, Essex, New Jersey

Data updated May 2026

FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.

Poor
52 t Inventory load rating

Bridge Snapshot: I-280 Eastbound

The I-280 Eastbound bridge in Essex, New Jersey carries I-280 Eastbound over Proposed Essex CO.PK.RD. It was built in 1972, making it 54 years old today. The structure is built primarily of steel and spans 1 section, stretching 18.0 meters (59 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 38,906 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 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 51.7 metric tons.

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

How I-280 Eastbound compares

▲ 7.9
Load rating vs New Jersey average (43.8 t)
Top 29%
Higher load rating than 71% of New Jersey bridges
501
Bridges in Essex · 7 in Poor condition
I-280 Eastbound 51.7 t
New Jersey average 43.8 t

Live comparison across New Jersey.

Historical Sufficiency Rating

PlainBridge-computed
89.2 / 100 - historical 80–100 band
Structural adequacy /55
55.0
Serviceability /30
27.0
Essentiality /15
9.2
Special reductions
−2.0

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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
51.7 t
NBI inventory level (metric tons)
Overall Condition
Poor

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

Structural Details

Year Built
1972
Material
Steel
Number of Spans
1
Structure Length
18.0 m (59 ft)
Deck Width
13.4 m (44 ft)
Owner
State Highway Agency
Avg Daily Traffic
38,906 vehicles/day
Structure Number
0728150

Condition Analysis

  • The deck (driving surface) is in poor condition (4/9), showing advanced deterioration that may require priority repair.
  • The superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) is in good condition (7/9), showing no significant deterioration.
  • The substructure (piers and abutments) is in good condition (7/9), showing no significant deterioration.

How to read this record

I-280 Eastbound 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 I-280 Eastbound 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-280 Eastbound?

I-280 Eastbound in Essex, New Jersey 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 I-280 Eastbound inspected?

I-280 Eastbound'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 38,906 vehicles per day.

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

FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. I-280 Eastbound 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 I-280 Eastbound?

I-280 Eastbound has an NBI inventory load rating of 51.7 metric tons.

Who is responsible for maintaining I-280 Eastbound?

I-280 Eastbound is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.

How old is I-280 Eastbound and does age affect safety?

I-280 Eastbound was built in 1972, making it 54 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.