I 290 EB
Carrying I 290 EB over HWY E CENTRAL ST
100 FT WEST OF MULBURY ST, Worcester, Massachusetts
Data updated May 2026
FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.
Bridge Snapshot: I 290 EB
The I 290 EB bridge in Worcester, Massachusetts carries I 290 EB over HWY E CENTRAL ST. It was built in 1958, making it 68 years old today. The structure is built primarily of steel continuous and spans 3 sections, stretching 48.8 meters (160 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 65,611 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 4/9, superstructure at 4/9, 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 36.5 metric tons.
Sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for refresh cadence and NBI release vintage.
How I 290 EB 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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
- 1958
- Material
- Steel Continuous
- Number of Spans
- 3
- Structure Length
- 48.8 m (160 ft)
- Deck Width
- 18.6 m (61 ft)
- Owner
- State Highway Agency
- Avg Daily Traffic
- 65,611 vehicles/day
- Structure Number
- W440911T9DOTNBI
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 4/9, the superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) is in poor shape, with advanced wear flagged for priority repair.
- • At 5/9, the substructure (piers and abutments) shows fair condition, with minor wear flagged for upkeep.
How to read this record
I 290 EB 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 290 EB against other structures in Worcester 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 290 EB?
I 290 EB in Worcester, Massachusetts has a deck rating of 4/9, superstructure rating of 4/9, and substructure rating of 5/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.
How often is I 290 EB inspected?
I 290 EB'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 65,611 vehicles per day.
What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?
FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. I 290 EB 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 290 EB?
I 290 EB has an NBI inventory load rating of 36.5 metric tons.
Who is responsible for maintaining I 290 EB?
I 290 EB is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.
How old is I 290 EB and does age affect safety?
I 290 EB was built in 1958, making it 68 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.