SOUTH BRANCH ROAD
Carrying SOUTH BRANCH ROAD over LEHIGH-NORFOLK SOUTHERN
1.63 MI NORTH OF RT 514, Somerset, New Jersey
Data updated May 2026
FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.
Bridge Snapshot: SOUTH BRANCH ROAD
The SOUTH BRANCH ROAD bridge in Somerset, New Jersey carries SOUTH BRANCH ROAD over LEHIGH-NORFOLK SOUTHERN. It was built in 1992, making it 34 years old today. The structure is built primarily of prestressed concrete and spans 3 sections, stretching 56.1 meters (184 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 4,441 vehicles, placing it in the moderately-trafficked tier of New Jersey bridges. It is owned and maintained by County Highway Agency.
The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 5/9, superstructure at 7/9, substructure at 6/9. The weakest component sits in fair condition. All reported major components score above the Poor range. Its NBI inventory load rating is 65.3 metric tons.
Sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for refresh cadence and NBI release vintage.
How SOUTH BRANCH ROAD 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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
- 1992
- Material
- Prestressed Concrete
- Number of Spans
- 3
- Structure Length
- 56.1 m (184 ft)
- Deck Width
- 12.4 m (41 ft)
- Owner
- County Highway Agency
- Avg Daily Traffic
- 4,441 vehicles/day
- Structure Number
- 18D0610
Location
Data Source
FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI).
FHWA NBI Program ↗Condition Analysis
- • At 5/9, the deck (driving surface) shows fair condition, with minor wear flagged for upkeep.
- • The superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) rates good at 7/9, with no significant deterioration on file.
- • The substructure (piers and abutments) is in fair condition (6/9), with minor deterioration that may require routine maintenance.
How to read this record
This page shows what the last federal inspection recorded, not whether SOUTH BRANCH ROAD 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 SOUTH BRANCH ROAD against other structures in Somerset 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 SOUTH BRANCH ROAD?
SOUTH BRANCH ROAD in Somerset, New Jersey has a deck rating of 5/9, superstructure rating of 7/9, and substructure rating of 6/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.
How often is SOUTH BRANCH ROAD inspected?
SOUTH BRANCH ROAD'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 4,441 vehicles per day.
What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?
FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. SOUTH BRANCH ROAD 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 SOUTH BRANCH ROAD?
SOUTH BRANCH ROAD has an NBI inventory load rating of 65.3 metric tons.
Who is responsible for maintaining SOUTH BRANCH ROAD?
SOUTH BRANCH ROAD is owned and maintained by County Highway Agency.
How old is SOUTH BRANCH ROAD and does age affect safety?
SOUTH BRANCH ROAD was built in 1992, making it 34 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.
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.