US 42
Carrying US 42 over OHIO RIVER CLAY BAILEY
OVER OHIO RIVER, Hamilton, Ohio
Data updated May 2026
FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.
Bridge Snapshot: US 42
The US 42 bridge in Hamilton, Ohio carries US 42 over OHIO RIVER CLAY BAILEY. It was built in 1974, making it 52 years old today. The structure is built primarily of steel and spans 3 sections, stretching 673.4 meters (2209 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 13,531 vehicles, placing it in the heavily-trafficked tier of Ohio bridges. It is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.
The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 5/9, superstructure at 5/9, substructure at 4/9. 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 32.4 metric tons.
Sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for refresh cadence and NBI release vintage.
How US 42 compares
Live comparison across Ohio.
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
- 1974
- Material
- Steel
- Number of Spans
- 3
- Structure Length
- 673.4 m (2209 ft)
- Deck Width
- 14.2 m (47 ft)
- Owner
- State Highway Agency
- Avg Daily Traffic
- 13,531 vehicles/day
- Structure Number
- 3102475
Location
Data Source
FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI).
FHWA NBI Program ↗Condition Analysis
- • The deck (driving surface) rates fair at 5/9, minor deterioration that routine maintenance should address.
- • At 5/9, the superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) shows fair condition, with minor wear flagged for upkeep.
- • The substructure (piers and abutments) is in poor condition (4/9), showing advanced deterioration that may require priority repair.
How to read this record
US 42 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 US 42 against other structures in Hamilton and across Ohio. Ohio 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 US 42?
US 42 in Hamilton, Ohio has a deck rating of 5/9, superstructure rating of 5/9, and substructure rating of 4/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.
How often is US 42 inspected?
US 42'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 13,531 vehicles per day.
What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?
FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. US 42 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 US 42?
US 42 has an NBI inventory load rating of 32.4 metric tons.
Who is responsible for maintaining US 42?
US 42 is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.
How old is US 42 and does age affect safety?
US 42 was built in 1974, making it 52 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.
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.