NJ ROUTE 159
Carrying NJ ROUTE 159 over BRANCH OF PASSAIC RIVER
.25 MI.E.OF NJ159 & US 46, Morris, New Jersey
Data updated May 2026
FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.
Bridge Snapshot: NJ ROUTE 159
The NJ ROUTE 159 bridge in Morris, New Jersey carries NJ ROUTE 159 over BRANCH OF PASSAIC RIVER. It was built in 1921, making it 105 years old today. It was last reconstructed in 1940, extending its service life. The structure is built primarily of steel and spans 1 section, stretching 11.0 meters (36 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 2,799 vehicles, placing it in the moderately-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 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 37.2 metric tons.
Sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for refresh cadence and NBI release vintage.
How NJ ROUTE 159 compares
Live comparison across New Jersey.
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
- 1921
- Last Reconstructed
- 1940
- Material
- Steel
- Number of Spans
- 1
- Structure Length
- 11.0 m (36 ft)
- Deck Width
- 28.9 m (95 ft)
- Owner
- State Highway Agency
- Avg Daily Traffic
- 2,799 vehicles/day
- Structure Number
- 1430151
Location
Data Source
FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI).
FHWA NBI Program ↗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 fair condition (6/9), with minor deterioration that may require routine maintenance.
- • At 6/9, the substructure (piers and abutments) shows fair condition, with minor wear flagged for upkeep.
How to read this record
NJ ROUTE 159 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 NJ ROUTE 159 against other structures in Morris 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 NJ ROUTE 159?
NJ ROUTE 159 in Morris, New Jersey 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 NJ ROUTE 159 inspected?
NJ ROUTE 159'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 2,799 vehicles per day.
What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?
FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. NJ ROUTE 159 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 NJ ROUTE 159?
NJ ROUTE 159 has an NBI inventory load rating of 37.2 metric tons.
Who is responsible for maintaining NJ ROUTE 159?
NJ ROUTE 159 is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.
How old is NJ ROUTE 159 and does age affect safety?
NJ ROUTE 159 was built in 1921, making it 105 years old and last reconstructed in 1940.
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.