U.S. ROUTE 40
Carrying U.S. ROUTE 40 over SUSQUEHANNA RIVER-PA RR
HARFORD-CECIL CO LINE, Harford, Maryland
Data updated May 2026
FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.
Bridge Snapshot: U.S. ROUTE 40
The U.S. ROUTE 40 bridge in Harford, Maryland carries U.S. ROUTE 40 over SUSQUEHANNA RIVER-PA RR. It was built in 1939, making it 87 years old today. It was last reconstructed in 2011, extending its service life. The structure is built primarily of steel and spans 6 sections, stretching 2362.0 meters (7750 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 25,780 vehicles, placing it in the heavily-trafficked tier of Maryland bridges. It is owned and maintained by State Toll Authority.
The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 7/9, superstructure at 6/9, substructure at 6/9. The weakest component sits in fair condition. All reported major components score above the Poor range. Its NBI inventory load rating is 20.9 metric tons.
Sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for refresh cadence and NBI release vintage.
How U.S. ROUTE 40 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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
- 1939
- Last Reconstructed
- 2011
- Material
- Steel
- Number of Spans
- 6
- Structure Length
- 2362.0 m (7750 ft)
- Deck Width
- 16.0 m (52 ft)
- Owner
- State Toll Authority
- Avg Daily Traffic
- 25,780 vehicles/day
- Structure Number
- 300000H-Z040010
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.
- • At 6/9, the superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) shows fair condition, with minor wear flagged for upkeep.
- • The substructure (piers and abutments) is in fair condition (6/9), with minor deterioration that may require routine maintenance.
How to read this record
This page shows what the last federal inspection recorded, not whether U.S. ROUTE 40 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 U.S. ROUTE 40 against other structures in Harford 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 U.S. ROUTE 40?
U.S. ROUTE 40 in Harford, Maryland has a deck rating of 7/9, superstructure rating of 6/9, and substructure rating of 6/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.
How often is U.S. ROUTE 40 inspected?
U.S. ROUTE 40'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 25,780 vehicles per day.
What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?
FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. U.S. ROUTE 40 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 U.S. ROUTE 40?
U.S. ROUTE 40 has an NBI inventory load rating of 20.9 metric tons.
Who is responsible for maintaining U.S. ROUTE 40?
U.S. ROUTE 40 is owned and maintained by State Toll Authority.
How old is U.S. ROUTE 40 and does age affect safety?
U.S. ROUTE 40 was built in 1939, making it 87 years old and last reconstructed in 2011.
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.