FHWA NBI 2024 Inspection record Public-domain dataset

WASHINGTON ROAD

Carrying WASHINGTON ROAD over EASTSIDE BYPASS

0.1 MI E HARMON RD, Merced, California

Data updated May 2026

FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.

Poor

Bridge Snapshot: WASHINGTON ROAD

The WASHINGTON ROAD bridge in Merced, California carries WASHINGTON ROAD over EASTSIDE BYPASS. It was built in 1968, making it 58 years old today. The structure is built primarily of concrete continuous and spans 24 sections, stretching 214.9 meters (705 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 120 vehicles, placing it in the lower-traffic tier of California bridges. It is owned and maintained by County Highway Agency.

The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 3/9, superstructure at 3/9, substructure at 0/9. The weakest component sits in critical condition. A component scored 4 or below, placing this bridge in the federal Poor condition category rather than declaring it unsafe or closed.

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

How WASHINGTON ROAD compares

532
Bridges in Merced · 33 in Poor condition

Live comparison across California.

Historical Sufficiency Rating

PlainBridge-computed
35.6 / 100 - historical 20–49.9 band
Structural adequacy /55
0.0
Serviceability /30
21.0
Essentiality /15
14.6
Special reductions
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
3/9
Poor (1–4)
Superstructure
3/9
Poor (1–4)
Substructure
0/9
Failed (0)
Overall Condition
Poor

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

Structural Details

Year Built
1968
Material
Concrete Continuous
Number of Spans
24
Structure Length
214.9 m (705 ft)
Deck Width
9.2 m (30 ft)
Owner
County Highway Agency
Avg Daily Traffic
120 vehicles/day
Structure Number
39C0347

Condition Analysis

  • At 3/9, the deck (driving surface) is in poor shape, with advanced wear flagged for priority repair.
  • The superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) is in poor condition (3/9), showing advanced deterioration that may require priority repair.
  • The substructure (piers and abutments) rates critical at 0/9, severe deterioration that needs urgent attention.

How to read this record

WASHINGTON 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 WASHINGTON ROAD against other structures in Merced and across California. California 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 WASHINGTON ROAD?

WASHINGTON ROAD in Merced, California has a deck rating of 3/9, superstructure rating of 3/9, and substructure rating of 0/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.

How often is WASHINGTON ROAD inspected?

WASHINGTON 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 120 vehicles per day.

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

FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. WASHINGTON 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 WASHINGTON ROAD?

An inventory load rating is not recorded for WASHINGTON ROAD.

Who is responsible for maintaining WASHINGTON ROAD?

WASHINGTON ROAD is owned and maintained by County Highway Agency.

How old is WASHINGTON ROAD and does age affect safety?

WASHINGTON ROAD was built in 1968, making it 58 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.