UNION CHAPEL ROAD
Carrying UNION CHAPEL ROAD over CATTAIL CREEK
0.5 MI E OF DAISY RD, Howard, Maryland
Data updated May 2026
FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.
Bridge Snapshot: UNION CHAPEL ROAD
The UNION CHAPEL ROAD bridge in Howard, Maryland carries UNION CHAPEL ROAD over CATTAIL CREEK. It was built in 1955, making it 71 years old today. It was last reconstructed in 1981, extending its service life. The structure is built primarily of prestressed concrete and spans 1 section, stretching 21.8 meters (72 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 1,052 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 4/9, 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 26.8 metric tons.
Sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for refresh cadence and NBI release vintage.
How UNION CHAPEL 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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
- 1955
- Last Reconstructed
- 1981
- Material
- Prestressed Concrete
- Number of Spans
- 1
- Structure Length
- 21.8 m (72 ft)
- Deck Width
- 7.4 m (24 ft)
- Owner
- County Highway Agency
- Avg Daily Traffic
- 1,052 vehicles/day
- Structure Number
- 200000HO0040010
Location
Data Source
FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI).
FHWA NBI Program ↗Condition Analysis
- • The deck (driving surface) rates poor at 4/9, advanced deterioration that should be prioritized for repair.
- • The superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) rates poor at 4/9, advanced deterioration that should be prioritized for repair.
- • The substructure (piers and abutments) rates fair at 6/9, minor deterioration that routine maintenance should address.
How to read this record
UNION CHAPEL 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 UNION CHAPEL 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 UNION CHAPEL ROAD?
UNION CHAPEL ROAD in Howard, Maryland has a deck rating of 4/9, superstructure rating of 4/9, and substructure rating of 6/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.
How often is UNION CHAPEL ROAD inspected?
UNION CHAPEL 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 1,052 vehicles per day.
What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?
FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. UNION CHAPEL 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 UNION CHAPEL ROAD?
UNION CHAPEL ROAD has an NBI inventory load rating of 26.8 metric tons.
Who is responsible for maintaining UNION CHAPEL ROAD?
UNION CHAPEL ROAD is owned and maintained by County Highway Agency.
How old is UNION CHAPEL ROAD and does age affect safety?
UNION CHAPEL ROAD was built in 1955, making it 71 years old and last reconstructed in 1981.
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.