FHWA NBI 2024 Inspection record Public-domain dataset

Howe Road

Carrying Howe Road over PLUM CREEK

PLUM CREEK, Portage, Ohio

Data updated May 2026

FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.

Poor
32 t Inventory load rating

Bridge Snapshot: Howe Road

The Howe Road bridge in Portage, Ohio carries Howe Road over PLUM CREEK. It was built in 1963, making it 63 years old today. The structure is built primarily of steel and spans 1 section, stretching 13.1 meters (43 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 2,020 vehicles, placing it in the moderately-trafficked tier of Ohio bridges. It is owned and maintained by County Highway Agency.

The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 6/9, superstructure at 4/9, substructure at 7/9. 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 32.4 metric tons.

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

How Howe Road compares

▼ 5.1
Load rating vs Ohio average (37.5 t)
Bottom 26%
Lower load rating than 74% of Ohio bridges
217
Bridges in Portage · 20 in Poor condition
Howe Road 32.4 t
Ohio average 37.5 t

Live comparison across Ohio.

Historical Sufficiency Rating

PlainBridge-computed
50.4 / 100 - historical 50–79.9 band
Structural adequacy /55
30.0
Serviceability /30
9.0
Essentiality /15
14.4
Special reductions
−3.0

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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
4/9
Poor (1–4)
Substructure
7/9
Good (7–9)
Inventory Load Rating
32.4 t
NBI inventory level (metric tons)
Overall Condition
Poor

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

Structural Details

Year Built
1963
Material
Steel
Number of Spans
1
Structure Length
13.1 m (43 ft)
Deck Width
6.2 m (20 ft)
Owner
County Highway Agency
Avg Daily Traffic
2,020 vehicles/day
Structure Number
6730914

Condition Analysis

  • The deck (driving surface) is in fair condition (6/9), with minor deterioration that may require routine maintenance.
  • At 4/9, the superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) is in poor shape, with advanced wear flagged for priority repair.
  • The substructure (piers and abutments) rates good at 7/9, with no significant deterioration on file.

How to read this record

Howe 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 Howe Road against other structures in Portage 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 Howe Road?

Howe Road in Portage, Ohio has a deck rating of 6/9, superstructure rating of 4/9, and substructure rating of 7/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.

How often is Howe Road inspected?

Howe 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 2,020 vehicles per day.

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

FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. Howe 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 Howe Road?

Howe Road has an NBI inventory load rating of 32.4 metric tons.

Who is responsible for maintaining Howe Road?

Howe Road is owned and maintained by County Highway Agency.

How old is Howe Road and does age affect safety?

Howe Road was built in 1963, making it 63 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.