FHWA NBI 2024 Inspection record Public-domain dataset

MD 156

Carrying MD 156 over SWAN CREEK

0.54 MILE WEST OF MD 155, Harford, Maryland

Data updated May 2026

FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.

Fair
59 t Inventory load rating

Bridge Snapshot: MD 156

The MD 156 bridge in Harford, Maryland carries MD 156 over SWAN CREEK. It was built in 1922, making it 104 years old today. The structure is built primarily of steel, stretching 8.8 meters (29 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 970 vehicles, placing it in the lower-traffic tier of Maryland bridges. It is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.

The latest FHWA inspection records show culvert 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 59.0 metric tons.

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

How MD 156 compares

▲ 7.9
Load rating vs Maryland average (51.1 t)
Top 29%
Higher load rating than 71% of Maryland bridges
275
Bridges in Harford · 12 in Poor condition
MD 156 59.0 t
Maryland average 51.1 t

Live comparison across Maryland.

Historical Sufficiency Rating

PlainBridge-computed
88.8 / 100 - historical 80–100 band
Structural adequacy /55
45.0
Serviceability /30
29.0
Essentiality /15
14.8
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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

Culvert
5/9
Fair (5–6)
Inventory Load Rating
59.0 t
NBI inventory level (metric tons)
Overall Condition
Fair

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

Structural Details

Year Built
1922
Material
Steel
Structure Length
8.8 m (29 ft)
Owner
State Highway Agency
Avg Daily Traffic
970 vehicles/day
Structure Number
100000120038030

How to read this record

This page shows what the last federal inspection recorded, not whether MD 156 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 MD 156 against other structures in Harford 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 156?

MD 156 in Harford, Maryland on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.

How often is MD 156 inspected?

MD 156'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 970 vehicles per day.

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

FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. MD 156 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 MD 156?

MD 156 has an NBI inventory load rating of 59.0 metric tons.

Who is responsible for maintaining MD 156?

MD 156 is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.

How old is MD 156 and does age affect safety?

MD 156 was built in 1922, making it 104 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.