FHWA NBI 2024 Inspection record Public-domain dataset

SUMAS AVE

Carrying SUMAS AVE over JOHNSON CR

0.15 N FRONT ST, Whatcom, Washington

Data updated May 2026

FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.

Fair
11 t Inventory load rating

Bridge Snapshot: SUMAS AVE

The SUMAS AVE bridge in Whatcom, Washington carries SUMAS AVE over JOHNSON CR. It was built in 1970, making it 56 years old today. It was last reconstructed in 1992, extending its service life. The structure is built primarily of concrete and spans 3 sections, stretching 21.0 meters (69 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 926 vehicles, placing it in the lower-traffic tier of Washington 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 5/9, substructure at 5/9. The weakest component sits in fair condition. All reported major components score above the Poor range. Its NBI inventory load rating is 11.3 metric tons.

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

How SUMAS AVE compares

▼ 22.2
Load rating vs Washington average (33.5 t)
Bottom 2%
Lower load rating than 98% of Washington bridges
358
Bridges in Whatcom · 19 in Poor condition
SUMAS AVE 11.3 t
Washington average 33.5 t

Live comparison across Washington.

Historical Sufficiency Rating

PlainBridge-computed
37.1 / 100 - historical 20–49.9 band
Structural adequacy /55
13.5
Serviceability /30
9.0
Essentiality /15
14.7
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
6/9
Fair (5–6)
Superstructure
5/9
Fair (5–6)
Substructure
5/9
Fair (5–6)
Inventory Load Rating
11.3 t
NBI inventory level (metric tons)
Overall Condition
Fair

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

Structural Details

Year Built
1970
Last Reconstructed
1992
Material
Concrete
Number of Spans
3
Structure Length
21.0 m (69 ft)
Deck Width
10.5 m (34 ft)
Owner
City/Municipal Highway Agency
Avg Daily Traffic
926 vehicles/day
Structure Number
085603000000000

Condition Analysis

  • The deck (driving surface) is in fair condition (6/9), with minor deterioration that may require routine maintenance.
  • 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) rates fair at 5/9, minor deterioration that routine maintenance should address.

How to read this record

This page shows what the last federal inspection recorded, not whether SUMAS AVE 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 SUMAS AVE against other structures in Whatcom and across Washington. Washington 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 SUMAS AVE?

SUMAS AVE in Whatcom, Washington has a deck rating of 6/9, superstructure rating of 5/9, and substructure rating of 5/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.

How often is SUMAS AVE inspected?

SUMAS AVE'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 926 vehicles per day.

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

FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. SUMAS AVE 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 SUMAS AVE?

SUMAS AVE has an NBI inventory load rating of 11.3 metric tons.

Who is responsible for maintaining SUMAS AVE?

SUMAS AVE is owned and maintained by City/Municipal Highway Agency.

How old is SUMAS AVE and does age affect safety?

SUMAS AVE was built in 1970, making it 56 years old and last reconstructed in 1992.

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.