FHWA NBI 2024 Inspection record Public-domain dataset

MD 185

Carrying MD 185 over CSX TRANS.

0.10 MILE NORTH OF MD 547, Montgomery, Maryland

Data updated May 2026

FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.

Fair
46 t Inventory load rating

Bridge Snapshot: MD 185

The MD 185 bridge in Montgomery, Maryland carries MD 185 over CSX TRANS.. It was built in 1957, making it 69 years old today. It was last reconstructed in 1992, extending its service life. The structure is built primarily of steel continuous and spans 3 sections, stretching 35.4 meters (116 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 42,252 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 6/9, superstructure at 7/9, substructure at 6/9. 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 45.8 metric tons.

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

How MD 185 compares

▼ 5.3
Load rating vs Maryland average (51.1 t)
Top 47%
Higher load rating than 53% of Maryland bridges
522
Bridges in Montgomery · 24 in Poor condition
MD 185 45.8 t
Maryland average 51.1 t

Live comparison across Maryland.

Historical Sufficiency Rating

PlainBridge-computed
73.3 / 100 - historical 50–79.9 band
Structural adequacy /55
55.0
Serviceability /30
11.0
Essentiality /15
7.3
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
7/9
Good (7–9)
Substructure
6/9
Fair (5–6)
Inventory Load Rating
45.8 t
NBI inventory level (metric tons)
Overall Condition
Fair

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

Structural Details

Year Built
1957
Last Reconstructed
1992
Material
Steel Continuous
Number of Spans
3
Structure Length
35.4 m (116 ft)
Deck Width
31.3 m (103 ft)
Owner
State Highway Agency
Avg Daily Traffic
42,252 vehicles/day
Structure Number
100000150031010

Condition Analysis

  • The deck (driving surface) rates fair at 6/9, minor deterioration that routine maintenance should address.
  • The superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) is in good condition (7/9), showing no significant deterioration.
  • The substructure (piers and abutments) rates fair at 6/9, minor deterioration that routine maintenance should address.

How to read this record

This page shows what the last federal inspection recorded, not whether MD 185 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 185 against other structures in Montgomery 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 185?

MD 185 in Montgomery, Maryland has a deck rating of 6/9, superstructure rating of 7/9, and substructure rating of 6/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.

How often is MD 185 inspected?

MD 185'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 42,252 vehicles per day.

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

FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. MD 185 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 185?

MD 185 has an NBI inventory load rating of 45.8 metric tons.

Who is responsible for maintaining MD 185?

MD 185 is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.

How old is MD 185 and does age affect safety?

MD 185 was built in 1957, making it 69 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.