FHWA NBI 2024 Inspection record Public-domain dataset

I-83

Carrying I-83 over JONES FALLS

0.3 MI N COLD SPRING LANE, Baltimore city, Maryland

Data updated May 2026

FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.

Fair
31 t Inventory load rating

Bridge Snapshot: I-83

The I-83 bridge in Baltimore city, Maryland carries I-83 over JONES FALLS. It was built in 1962, making it 64 years old today. It was last reconstructed in 1987, extending its service life. The structure is built primarily of steel and spans 3 sections, stretching 54.9 meters (180 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 23,800 vehicles, placing it in the heavily-trafficked tier of Maryland bridges. It is owned and maintained by City/Municipal Highway Agency.

The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 6/9, superstructure at 6/9, 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 30.8 metric tons.

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

How I-83 compares

▼ 20.3
Load rating vs Maryland average (51.1 t)
Bottom 14%
Lower load rating than 86% of Maryland bridges
380
Bridges in Baltimore city · 27 in Poor condition
I-83 30.8 t
Maryland average 51.1 t

Live comparison across Maryland.

Historical Sufficiency Rating

PlainBridge-computed
71.1 / 100 - historical 50–79.9 band
Structural adequacy /55
54.3
Serviceability /30
11.0
Essentiality /15
5.7
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
6/9
Fair (5–6)
Substructure
6/9
Fair (5–6)
Inventory Load Rating
30.8 t
NBI inventory level (metric tons)
Overall Condition
Fair

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

Structural Details

Year Built
1962
Last Reconstructed
1987
Material
Steel
Number of Spans
3
Structure Length
54.9 m (180 ft)
Deck Width
33.3 m (109 ft)
Owner
City/Municipal Highway Agency
Avg Daily Traffic
23,800 vehicles/day
Structure Number
200000BC3118010

Condition Analysis

  • At 6/9, the deck (driving surface) shows fair condition, with minor wear flagged for upkeep.
  • 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

This page shows what the last federal inspection recorded, not whether I-83 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 I-83 against other structures in Baltimore city 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 I-83?

I-83 in Baltimore city, Maryland has a deck rating of 6/9, superstructure rating of 6/9, and substructure rating of 6/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.

How often is I-83 inspected?

I-83'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 23,800 vehicles per day.

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

FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. I-83 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 I-83?

I-83 has an NBI inventory load rating of 30.8 metric tons.

Who is responsible for maintaining I-83?

I-83 is owned and maintained by City/Municipal Highway Agency.

How old is I-83 and does age affect safety?

I-83 was built in 1962, making it 64 years old and last reconstructed in 1987.

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.