HWY SHORT ST
Carrying HWY SHORT ST over WATER SPICKET RIVER
.16 KM. W. OF RT. 110, Essex, Massachusetts
Data updated May 2026
FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.
Bridge Snapshot: HWY SHORT ST
The HWY SHORT ST bridge in Essex, Massachusetts carries HWY SHORT ST over WATER SPICKET RIVER. It was built in 1850, making it 176 years old today. It was last reconstructed in 1938, extending its service life. The structure is built primarily of steel and spans 1 section, stretching 21.0 meters (69 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 5,255 vehicles, placing it in the moderately-trafficked tier of Massachusetts bridges. It is owned and maintained by City/Municipal Highway Agency.
The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 4/9, superstructure at 5/9, substructure at 5/9. 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 47.1 metric tons.
Sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for refresh cadence and NBI release vintage.
How HWY SHORT ST 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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
- 1850
- Last Reconstructed
- 1938
- Material
- Steel
- Number of Spans
- 1
- Structure Length
- 21.0 m (69 ft)
- Deck Width
- 15.2 m (50 ft)
- Owner
- City/Municipal Highway Agency
- Avg Daily Traffic
- 5,255 vehicles/day
- Structure Number
- L040122R9MUNNBI
Location
Data Source
FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI).
FHWA NBI Program ↗Condition Analysis
- • At 4/9, the deck (driving surface) is in poor shape, with advanced wear flagged for priority repair.
- • 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) rates fair at 5/9, minor deterioration that routine maintenance should address.
How to read this record
HWY SHORT ST 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 HWY SHORT ST against other structures in Essex 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 SHORT ST?
HWY SHORT ST in Essex, Massachusetts has a deck rating of 4/9, superstructure rating of 5/9, and substructure rating of 5/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.
How often is HWY SHORT ST inspected?
HWY SHORT 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 5,255 vehicles per day.
What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?
FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. HWY SHORT ST 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 HWY SHORT ST?
HWY SHORT ST has an NBI inventory load rating of 47.1 metric tons.
Who is responsible for maintaining HWY SHORT ST?
HWY SHORT ST is owned and maintained by City/Municipal Highway Agency.
How old is HWY SHORT ST and does age affect safety?
HWY SHORT ST was built in 1850, making it 176 years old and last reconstructed in 1938.
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.