BROWNS BRIDGE ROAD
Carrying BROWNS BRIDGE ROAD over PATUXENT RIVER
1.4 MI E OF MD 650, Howard, Maryland
Data updated May 2026
FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.
Bridge Snapshot: BROWNS BRIDGE ROAD
The BROWNS BRIDGE ROAD bridge in Howard, Maryland carries BROWNS BRIDGE ROAD over PATUXENT RIVER. It was built in 1953, making it 73 years old today. It was last reconstructed in 1998, extending its service life. The structure is built primarily of steel and spans 3 sections, stretching 64.0 meters (210 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 5,772 vehicles, placing it in the moderately-trafficked tier of Maryland bridges. It is owned and maintained by County Highway Agency.
The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 7/9, superstructure at 4/9, 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 39.9 metric tons.
Sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for refresh cadence and NBI release vintage.
How BROWNS BRIDGE ROAD compares
Live comparison across Maryland.
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
- 1953
- Last Reconstructed
- 1998
- Material
- Steel
- Number of Spans
- 3
- Structure Length
- 64.0 m (210 ft)
- Deck Width
- 11.0 m (36 ft)
- Owner
- County Highway Agency
- Avg Daily Traffic
- 5,772 vehicles/day
- Structure Number
- 200000HO0021010
Location
Data Source
FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI).
FHWA NBI Program ↗Condition Analysis
- • At 7/9, the deck (driving surface) is in good shape and shows no significant wear.
- • The superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) is in poor condition (4/9), showing advanced deterioration that may require priority repair.
- • The substructure (piers and abutments) rates fair at 6/9, minor deterioration that routine maintenance should address.
How to read this record
BROWNS BRIDGE ROAD 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 BROWNS BRIDGE ROAD against other structures in Howard 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 BROWNS BRIDGE ROAD?
BROWNS BRIDGE ROAD in Howard, Maryland has a deck rating of 7/9, superstructure rating of 4/9, and substructure rating of 6/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.
How often is BROWNS BRIDGE ROAD inspected?
BROWNS BRIDGE 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 5,772 vehicles per day.
What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?
FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. BROWNS BRIDGE ROAD 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 BROWNS BRIDGE ROAD?
BROWNS BRIDGE ROAD has an NBI inventory load rating of 39.9 metric tons.
Who is responsible for maintaining BROWNS BRIDGE ROAD?
BROWNS BRIDGE ROAD is owned and maintained by County Highway Agency.
How old is BROWNS BRIDGE ROAD and does age affect safety?
BROWNS BRIDGE ROAD was built in 1953, making it 73 years old and last reconstructed in 1998.
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.