MA ROUTE 3
Carrying MA ROUTE 3 over CAPE COD CANAL
JUNCTION MA RTES 3 & 6, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Data updated May 2026
FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.
Bridge Snapshot: MA ROUTE 3
The MA ROUTE 3 bridge in Barnstable, Massachusetts carries MA ROUTE 3 over CAPE COD CANAL. It was built in 1935, making it 91 years old today. It was last reconstructed in 1981, extending its service life. The structure is built primarily of steel and spans 1 section, stretching 429.1 meters (1408 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 61,701 vehicles, placing it in the heavily-trafficked tier of Massachusetts bridges. It is owned and maintained by Army Corps of Engineers.
The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 5/9, superstructure at 5/9, substructure at 5/9. The weakest component sits in fair condition. All reported major components score above the Poor range. Its NBI inventory load rating is 20.1 metric tons.
Sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for refresh cadence and NBI release vintage.
How MA ROUTE 3 compares
Live comparison across Massachusetts.
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
- 1935
- Last Reconstructed
- 1981
- Material
- Steel
- Number of Spans
- 1
- Structure Length
- 429.1 m (1408 ft)
- Deck Width
- 14.8 m (49 ft)
- Owner
- Army Corps of Engineers
- Avg Daily Traffic
- 61,701 vehicles/day
- Structure Number
- CEPNEDMA2510002
Location
Data Source
FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI).
FHWA NBI Program ↗Condition Analysis
- • At 5/9, the deck (driving surface) shows fair condition, with minor wear flagged for upkeep.
- • 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 fair condition (5/9), with minor deterioration that may require routine maintenance.
How to read this record
This page shows what the last federal inspection recorded, not whether MA ROUTE 3 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 MA ROUTE 3 against other structures in Barnstable 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 MA ROUTE 3?
MA ROUTE 3 in Barnstable, Massachusetts has a deck rating of 5/9, superstructure rating of 5/9, and substructure rating of 5/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.
How often is MA ROUTE 3 inspected?
MA ROUTE 3'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 61,701 vehicles per day.
What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?
FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. MA ROUTE 3 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 MA ROUTE 3?
MA ROUTE 3 has an NBI inventory load rating of 20.1 metric tons.
Who is responsible for maintaining MA ROUTE 3?
MA ROUTE 3 is owned and maintained by Army Corps of Engineers.
How old is MA ROUTE 3 and does age affect safety?
MA ROUTE 3 was built in 1935, making it 91 years old and last reconstructed in 1981.
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.