PFEFFERKORN ROAD
Carrying PFEFFERKORN ROAD over MIDDLE PATUXENT RIVER
1 MI S OF MD RTE 144, Howard, Maryland
Data updated May 2026
FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.
Bridge Snapshot: PFEFFERKORN ROAD
The PFEFFERKORN ROAD bridge in Howard, Maryland carries PFEFFERKORN ROAD over MIDDLE PATUXENT RIVER. It was built in 1935, making it 91 years old today. It was last reconstructed in 1979, 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 1,116 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 6/9, superstructure at 4/9, substructure at 6/9. The weakest component sits in poor condition. Because at least one major component scores 4 or lower, this bridge falls in FHWA's Poor condition category. That category is not a closure order. Its NBI inventory load rating is 24.9 metric tons.
Sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for refresh cadence and NBI release vintage.
How PFEFFERKORN 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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
- 1935
- Last Reconstructed
- 1979
- Material
- Steel
- Number of Spans
- 1
- Structure Length
- 11.0 m (36 ft)
- Deck Width
- 6.6 m (22 ft)
- Owner
- County Highway Agency
- Avg Daily Traffic
- 1,116 vehicles/day
- Structure Number
- 200000HO0031010
Location
Data Source
FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI).
FHWA NBI Program ↗Condition Analysis
- • The deck (driving surface) is in fair condition (6/9), with minor deterioration that may require routine maintenance.
- • At 4/9, the superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) is in poor shape, with advanced wear flagged for priority repair.
- • The substructure (piers and abutments) rates fair at 6/9, minor deterioration that routine maintenance should address.
How to read this record
PFEFFERKORN 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 PFEFFERKORN 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 PFEFFERKORN ROAD?
PFEFFERKORN ROAD in Howard, Maryland has a deck rating of 6/9, superstructure rating of 4/9, and substructure rating of 6/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.
How often is PFEFFERKORN ROAD inspected?
PFEFFERKORN 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 1,116 vehicles per day.
What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?
FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. PFEFFERKORN 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 PFEFFERKORN ROAD?
PFEFFERKORN ROAD has an NBI inventory load rating of 24.9 metric tons.
Who is responsible for maintaining PFEFFERKORN ROAD?
PFEFFERKORN ROAD is owned and maintained by County Highway Agency.
How old is PFEFFERKORN ROAD and does age affect safety?
PFEFFERKORN ROAD was built in 1935, making it 91 years old and last reconstructed in 1979.
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.