FHWA NBI 2024 Inspection record Public-domain dataset

LAKE POTOMAC DRIVE

Carrying LAKE POTOMAC DRIVE over WATTS BRANCH

0.1 MI N OF JCT SR 190, Montgomery, Maryland

Data updated May 2026

FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.

Fair
37 t Inventory load rating

Bridge Snapshot: LAKE POTOMAC DRIVE

The LAKE POTOMAC DRIVE bridge in Montgomery, Maryland carries LAKE POTOMAC DRIVE over WATTS BRANCH. It was built in 1985, making it 41 years old today. The structure is built primarily of steel continuous and spans 3 sections, stretching 56.1 meters (184 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 139 vehicles, placing it in the lower-traffic 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 7/9, substructure at 7/9. 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 36.7 metric tons.

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

How LAKE POTOMAC DRIVE compares

▼ 14.4
Load rating vs Maryland average (51.1 t)
Bottom 33%
Lower load rating than 67% of Maryland bridges
522
Bridges in Montgomery · 24 in Poor condition
LAKE POTOMAC DRIVE 36.7 t
Maryland average 51.1 t

Live comparison across Maryland.

Historical Sufficiency Rating

PlainBridge-computed
96.2 / 100 - historical 80–100 band
Structural adequacy /55
55.0
Serviceability /30
28.3
Essentiality /15
15.0
Special reductions
−2.0

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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
7/9
Good (7–9)
Substructure
7/9
Good (7–9)
Inventory Load Rating
36.7 t
NBI inventory level (metric tons)
Overall Condition
Fair

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

Structural Details

Year Built
1985
Material
Steel Continuous
Number of Spans
3
Structure Length
56.1 m (184 ft)
Deck Width
11.6 m (38 ft)
Owner
County Highway Agency
Avg Daily Traffic
139 vehicles/day
Structure Number
200000M-0208010

Condition Analysis

  • The deck (driving surface) is in fair condition (6/9), with minor deterioration that may require routine maintenance.
  • At 7/9, the superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) is in good shape and shows no significant wear.
  • At 7/9, the substructure (piers and abutments) is in good shape and shows no significant wear.

How to read this record

This page shows what the last federal inspection recorded, not whether LAKE POTOMAC DRIVE 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 LAKE POTOMAC DRIVE against other structures in Montgomery 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 LAKE POTOMAC DRIVE?

LAKE POTOMAC DRIVE in Montgomery, Maryland has a deck rating of 6/9, superstructure rating of 7/9, and substructure rating of 7/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.

How often is LAKE POTOMAC DRIVE inspected?

LAKE POTOMAC DRIVE'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 139 vehicles per day.

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

FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. LAKE POTOMAC DRIVE 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 LAKE POTOMAC DRIVE?

LAKE POTOMAC DRIVE has an NBI inventory load rating of 36.7 metric tons.

Who is responsible for maintaining LAKE POTOMAC DRIVE?

LAKE POTOMAC DRIVE is owned and maintained by County Highway Agency.

How old is LAKE POTOMAC DRIVE and does age affect safety?

LAKE POTOMAC DRIVE was built in 1985, making it 41 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.

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.