FHWA NBI 2024 Inspection record Public-domain dataset

HWY HOWE ST

Carrying HWY HOWE ST over RR MBTA/CSX

.1 MI S OF CORDAVILLE RD, Middlesex, Massachusetts

Data updated May 2026

FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.

Fair
43 t Inventory load rating

Bridge Snapshot: HWY HOWE ST

The HWY HOWE ST bridge in Middlesex, Massachusetts carries HWY HOWE ST over RR MBTA/CSX. It was built in 1990, making it 36 years old today. The structure is built primarily of steel and spans 1 section, stretching 27.7 meters (91 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 600 vehicles, placing it in the lower-traffic tier of Massachusetts bridges. It is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.

The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 5/9, superstructure at 6/9, substructure at 7/9. The weakest component sits in fair condition. None of this bridge's reported major components fall into the Poor condition range. Its NBI inventory load rating is 42.7 metric tons.

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

How HWY HOWE ST compares

▲ 1.5
Load rating vs Massachusetts average (41.2 t)
Top 35%
Higher load rating than 65% of Massachusetts bridges
820
Bridges in Middlesex · 72 in Poor condition
HWY HOWE ST 42.7 t
Massachusetts average 41.2 t

Live comparison across Massachusetts.

Historical Sufficiency Rating

PlainBridge-computed
88.8 / 100 - historical 80–100 band
Structural adequacy /55
55.0
Serviceability /30
21.0
Essentiality /15
14.8
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
5/9
Fair (5–6)
Superstructure
6/9
Fair (5–6)
Substructure
7/9
Good (7–9)
Inventory Load Rating
42.7 t
NBI inventory level (metric tons)
Overall Condition
Fair

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

Structural Details

Year Built
1990
Material
Steel
Number of Spans
1
Structure Length
27.7 m (91 ft)
Deck Width
13.0 m (43 ft)
Owner
State Highway Agency
Avg Daily Traffic
600 vehicles/day
Structure Number
A1401329CDOT634

Condition Analysis

  • The deck (driving surface) rates fair at 5/9, minor deterioration that routine maintenance should address.
  • The superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) rates fair at 6/9, minor deterioration that routine maintenance should address.
  • 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 HWY HOWE ST 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 HWY HOWE ST against other structures in Middlesex and across Massachusetts. Massachusetts 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 HWY HOWE ST?

HWY HOWE ST in Middlesex, Massachusetts has a deck rating of 5/9, superstructure rating of 6/9, and substructure rating of 7/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.

How often is HWY HOWE ST inspected?

HWY HOWE ST'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 600 vehicles per day.

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

FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. HWY HOWE ST 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 HWY HOWE ST?

HWY HOWE ST has an NBI inventory load rating of 42.7 metric tons.

Who is responsible for maintaining HWY HOWE ST?

HWY HOWE ST is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.

How old is HWY HOWE ST and does age affect safety?

HWY HOWE ST was built in 1990, making it 36 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.