I 495 SB RAMP L
Carrying I 495 SB RAMP L over COMB MERRIMAC ST & MBTA
.16 KM W I495, Essex, Massachusetts
Data updated May 2026
FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.
Bridge Snapshot: I 495 SB RAMP L
The I 495 SB RAMP L bridge in Essex, Massachusetts carries I 495 SB RAMP L over COMB MERRIMAC ST & MBTA. It was built in 1963, making it 63 years old today. The structure is built primarily of steel and spans 6 sections, stretching 120.4 meters (395 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 15,178 vehicles, placing it in the heavily-trafficked tier of Massachusetts bridges. It is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.
The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 6/9, superstructure at 2/9, substructure at 5/9. The weakest component sits in critical 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 35.2 metric tons.
Sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for refresh cadence and NBI release vintage.
How I 495 SB RAMP L 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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
- 1963
- Material
- Steel
- Number of Spans
- 6
- Structure Length
- 120.4 m (395 ft)
- Deck Width
- 10.4 m (34 ft)
- Owner
- State Highway Agency
- Avg Daily Traffic
- 15,178 vehicles/day
- Structure Number
- L040442XCDOTNBI
Location
Data Source
FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI).
FHWA NBI Program ↗Condition Analysis
- • At 6/9, the deck (driving surface) shows fair condition, with minor wear flagged for upkeep.
- • At 2/9, the superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) is in critical shape, with severe wear requiring urgent action.
- • The substructure (piers and abutments) is in fair condition (5/9), with minor deterioration that may require routine maintenance.
How to read this record
I 495 SB RAMP L 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 I 495 SB RAMP L 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 I 495 SB RAMP L?
I 495 SB RAMP L in Essex, Massachusetts has a deck rating of 6/9, superstructure rating of 2/9, and substructure rating of 5/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.
How often is I 495 SB RAMP L inspected?
I 495 SB RAMP L'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 15,178 vehicles per day.
What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?
FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. I 495 SB RAMP L 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 I 495 SB RAMP L?
I 495 SB RAMP L has an NBI inventory load rating of 35.2 metric tons.
Who is responsible for maintaining I 495 SB RAMP L?
I 495 SB RAMP L is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.
How old is I 495 SB RAMP L and does age affect safety?
I 495 SB RAMP L 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.
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.