FHWA NBI 2024 Inspection record Public-domain dataset

HWY CENTRAL AVE

Carrying HWY CENTRAL AVE over WATER CHARLES RIVER

NEEDHAM/NEWTON TOWN LINE, Norfolk, Massachusetts

Data updated May 2026

FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.

Good
97 t Inventory load rating

Bridge Snapshot: HWY CENTRAL AVE

The HWY CENTRAL AVE bridge in Norfolk, Massachusetts carries HWY CENTRAL AVE over WATER CHARLES RIVER. It was built in 1860, making it 166 years old today. It was last reconstructed in 2016, extending its service life. The structure is built primarily of concrete and spans 3 sections, stretching 26.2 meters (86 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 22,500 vehicles, placing it in the heavily-trafficked tier of Massachusetts bridges. It is owned and maintained by Town/Township Highway Agency.

The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 7/9, superstructure at 7/9, substructure at 7/9. The weakest component sits in good condition. All reported major components score above the Poor range. Its NBI inventory load rating is 97.2 metric tons.

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

How HWY CENTRAL AVE compares

▲ 56.0
Load rating vs Massachusetts average (41.2 t)
Top 4%
Higher load rating than 96% of Massachusetts bridges
348
Bridges in Norfolk · 14 in Poor condition
HWY CENTRAL AVE 97.2 t
Massachusetts average 41.2 t

Live comparison across Massachusetts.

Historical Sufficiency Rating

PlainBridge-computed
74.8 / 100 - historical 50–79.9 band
Structural adequacy /55
55.0
Serviceability /30
9.0
Essentiality /15
10.8
Special reductions
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
7/9
Good (7–9)
Superstructure
7/9
Good (7–9)
Substructure
7/9
Good (7–9)
Inventory Load Rating
97.2 t
NBI inventory level (metric tons)
Overall Condition
Good

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

Structural Details

Year Built
1860
Last Reconstructed
2016
Material
Concrete
Number of Spans
3
Structure Length
26.2 m (86 ft)
Deck Width
13.4 m (44 ft)
Owner
Town/Township Highway Agency
Avg Daily Traffic
22,500 vehicles/day
Structure Number
N0400133PMUNNBI

Condition Analysis

  • At 7/9, the deck (driving surface) is in good shape and shows no significant wear.
  • At 7/9, the superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) is in good shape and shows no significant wear.
  • The substructure (piers and abutments) is in good condition (7/9), showing no significant deterioration.

How to read this record

This page shows what the last federal inspection recorded, not whether HWY CENTRAL AVE 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 CENTRAL AVE against other structures in Norfolk 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 CENTRAL AVE?

HWY CENTRAL AVE in Norfolk, Massachusetts has a deck rating of 7/9, superstructure rating of 7/9, and substructure rating of 7/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.

How often is HWY CENTRAL AVE inspected?

HWY CENTRAL AVE'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 22,500 vehicles per day.

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

FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. HWY CENTRAL AVE is currently shown as Good condition from its component ratings; that category is not a live closure or safety decision.

What is the inventory load rating for HWY CENTRAL AVE?

HWY CENTRAL AVE has an NBI inventory load rating of 97.2 metric tons.

Who is responsible for maintaining HWY CENTRAL AVE?

HWY CENTRAL AVE is owned and maintained by Town/Township Highway Agency.

How old is HWY CENTRAL AVE and does age affect safety?

HWY CENTRAL AVE was built in 1860, making it 166 years old and last reconstructed in 2016.

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.