MD 26
Carrying MD 26 over LIBERTY RESERVOIR
ON BALTO CO LINE, Carroll, Maryland
Data updated May 2026
FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.
Bridge Snapshot: MD 26
The MD 26 bridge in Carroll, Maryland carries MD 26 over LIBERTY RESERVOIR. It was built in 1954, making it 72 years old today. It was last reconstructed in 1982, extending its service life. The structure is built primarily of steel and spans 15 sections, stretching 524.0 meters (1719 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 20,192 vehicles, placing it in the heavily-trafficked tier of Maryland bridges. It is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.
The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 4/9, superstructure at 6/9, substructure at 6/9. The weakest component sits in poor condition. At least one major component here scores 4 or below, which produces a Poor condition classification under FHWA's current reporting rules. Its NBI inventory load rating is 41.7 metric tons.
Sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for refresh cadence and NBI release vintage.
How MD 26 compares
Live comparison across Maryland.
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
- 1954
- Last Reconstructed
- 1982
- Material
- Steel
- Number of Spans
- 15
- Structure Length
- 524.0 m (1719 ft)
- Deck Width
- 11.9 m (39 ft)
- Owner
- State Highway Agency
- Avg Daily Traffic
- 20,192 vehicles/day
- Structure Number
- 100000060002010
Location
Data Source
FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI).
FHWA NBI Program ↗Condition Analysis
- • At 4/9, the deck (driving surface) is in poor shape, with advanced wear flagged for priority repair.
- • The superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) is in fair condition (6/9), with minor deterioration that may require routine maintenance.
- • The substructure (piers and abutments) rates fair at 6/9, minor deterioration that routine maintenance should address.
How to read this record
MD 26 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 MD 26 against other structures in Carroll and across Maryland. Maryland 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 MD 26?
MD 26 in Carroll, Maryland has a deck rating of 4/9, superstructure rating of 6/9, and substructure rating of 6/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.
How often is MD 26 inspected?
MD 26'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 20,192 vehicles per day.
What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?
FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. MD 26 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 MD 26?
MD 26 has an NBI inventory load rating of 41.7 metric tons.
Who is responsible for maintaining MD 26?
MD 26 is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.
How old is MD 26 and does age affect safety?
MD 26 was built in 1954, making it 72 years old and last reconstructed in 1982.
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.