ST 38 NB SMITH RTY
Carrying ST 38 NB SMITH RTY over HWY LOWELL-LWRNCE BLVD
EAST BRIDGE SMITH RTY, Middlesex, Massachusetts
Data updated May 2026
FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.
Bridge Snapshot: ST 38 NB SMITH RTY
The ST 38 NB SMITH RTY bridge in Middlesex, Massachusetts carries ST 38 NB SMITH RTY over HWY LOWELL-LWRNCE BLVD. It was built in 1954, making it 72 years old today. It was last reconstructed in 2012, extending its service life. The structure is built primarily of steel and spans 3 sections, stretching 43.9 meters (144 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 13,060 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 7/9, superstructure at 5/9, substructure at 3/9. The weakest component sits in poor condition. A component scored 4 or below, placing this bridge in the federal Poor condition category rather than declaring it unsafe or closed. Its NBI inventory load rating is 42.3 metric tons.
Sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for refresh cadence and NBI release vintage.
How ST 38 NB SMITH RTY 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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
- 1954
- Last Reconstructed
- 2012
- Material
- Steel
- Number of Spans
- 3
- Structure Length
- 43.9 m (144 ft)
- Deck Width
- 14.6 m (48 ft)
- Owner
- State Highway Agency
- Avg Daily Traffic
- 13,060 vehicles/day
- Structure Number
- L150612PBDOTNBI
Location
Data Source
FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI).
FHWA NBI Program ↗Condition Analysis
- • The deck (driving surface) is in good condition (7/9), showing no significant deterioration.
- • The superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) rates fair at 5/9, minor deterioration that routine maintenance should address.
- • At 3/9, the substructure (piers and abutments) is in poor shape, with advanced wear flagged for priority repair.
How to read this record
ST 38 NB SMITH RTY 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 ST 38 NB SMITH RTY 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 ST 38 NB SMITH RTY?
ST 38 NB SMITH RTY in Middlesex, Massachusetts has a deck rating of 7/9, superstructure rating of 5/9, and substructure rating of 3/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.
How often is ST 38 NB SMITH RTY inspected?
ST 38 NB SMITH RTY'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 13,060 vehicles per day.
What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?
FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. ST 38 NB SMITH RTY 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 ST 38 NB SMITH RTY?
ST 38 NB SMITH RTY has an NBI inventory load rating of 42.3 metric tons.
Who is responsible for maintaining ST 38 NB SMITH RTY?
ST 38 NB SMITH RTY is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.
How old is ST 38 NB SMITH RTY and does age affect safety?
ST 38 NB SMITH RTY was built in 1954, making it 72 years old and last reconstructed in 2012.
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.