Total bridges
193
Public highway bridges in Cecil County
County profile · official public datasets
Cecil County, MD
193 public highway bridges tracked in the FHWA National Bridge Inventory: 32.1% rated Good, 63.7% Fair, 4.1% Poor.
- 193
- Public bridges
- 32.1%
- Good condition
- 4.1%
- Poor condition
The verdict
According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory.
Cecil County posts a better-than-median Poor-condition share among rated counties in the state across mid-size county bridge inventory.
- Top 42%
- lowest Poor share in state
- 4.1%
- Poor-condition share
- 193
- public highway bridges
- 1972
- avg year built
Poor is an FHWA condition category from the lowest applicable component rating (4 or below), not a live crossing-safety or closure decision. Rankings cover counties with at least five public highway bridges.
Cecil County Bridge Snapshot
According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory, Cecil County ranks #10 of 24 Maryland counties with at least 5 public highway bridges on Poor-condition share (lower share ranks better; currently 4.1%). Cecil County, Maryland contains 193 public highway bridges. Roughly 32.1% are rated “Good,” 63.7% “Fair,” and 4.1% “Poor.” Poor means the lowest applicable deck, superstructure, substructure, or culvert rating is 4 or below on the 0–9 NBI scale. It is a condition category, not a live safety or closure decision.
Responsible agencies inspect covered bridges on risk-based intervals under current NBIS rules and submit inventory data to FHWA annually. The list below shows every NBI-tracked bridge in the county. Use the “Sort by” controls to change the ordering, and click any row for its reported inspection date, traffic count, and condition fields.
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See methodology for full definitions.
Good condition
32.1%
62 of 193 rated 7-9
Fair condition
63.7%
123 of 193 rated 5-6
Poor condition
4.1%
8 of 193 rated 4 or below
In-state Poor-share rank
#10 of 24
Among Maryland counties with 5+ bridges, lower share ranks better
Condition distribution
Share of 193 NBI-tracked bridges by lowest applicable component rating.
Good 32.1% (62)
Fair 63.7% (123)
Poor 4.1% (8)
Cecil County's Poor-condition bridges carry 8,460 vehicle crossings a day
That is 0.5% of the county's reported daily bridge traffic on 4.1% of its bridges: Poor-condition structures carry less traffic than their share of the inventory. Each Poor bridge averages 1,058 crossings a day against 3,703 for a Good-condition one. A Poor rating is a condition category, not a closure or a live safety judgement; it means the lowest applicable component rating is 4 or below.
Computed over the 193 of 193 bridges in this county that report an average daily traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
51.8% of Cecil County's bridges have passed the 50-year mark
100 of the 193 bridges with a recorded construction year were built in 1974 or earlier. Age alone is not a defect: a well-maintained older bridge can rate Good, and 32.1% of this county's inventory does. Even so, this older cohort is the population from which future Poor ratings are drawn, which is why the age profile below matters alongside the condition split above.
Cutoff derives from the 2024 release year minus a 50-year design life. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
One structure carries 56% of the county's Poor-condition bridge traffic
MECHANICS VALLEY R over CSX RAILROAD, built 1975, carries 4,734 vehicles a day, the most of any Poor-rated structure here. The county's Poor-condition exposure is concentrated rather than evenly spread, so the 8-bridge count understates how much of the daily burden sits on a single crossing.
Share is of the 8,460 daily crossings on Poor-rated bridges that report a traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
When Cecil County's bridges were built
193 bridges with a recorded construction year, grouped by decade
- pre-1900 4
Built before 1900
4 bridges
- 1900s 4
1900–1909
4 bridges
- 1910s 2
1910–1919
2 bridges
- 1920s 2
1920–1929
2 bridges
- 1930s
1930–1939
21 bridges
- 1940s 14
1940–1949
14 bridges
- 1950s 6
1950–1959
6 bridges
- 1960s
1960–1969
41 bridges
- 1970s 11
1970–1979
11 bridges
- 1980s
1980–1989
21 bridges
- 1990s
1990–1999
22 bridges
- 2000s
2000–2009
23 bridges
- 2010s
2010–2019
20 bridges
- 2020s 2
2020–2029
2 bridges
What this shows Construction peaked in the 1960s, when 41 of the county's bridges still in the inventory were built, which is 21.2% of those with a recorded year. That cohort is now 55 to 64 years old in the 2024 inventory. Its average build year (1972) matches the Maryland average (1972).
How Cecil County compares with Maryland's closest counties by inventory size
The 5 Maryland counties nearest Cecil County in number of bridges, with their condition splits. Its 4.1% Poor share is the 1st-lowest of these 6. Its average build year of 1972 against a peer-group mean of 1971 is in line with the group.
Showing the 5 closest of 23 Maryland counties eligible for comparison.
| County | Bridges | Good | Fair | Poor | Avg. built |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harford County | 275 | 38.2% | 57.1% | 4.7% | 1973 |
| Allegany County | 245 | 36.7% | 57.1% | 6.1% | 1971 |
| Carroll County | 205 | 28.3% | 66.3% | 5.4% | 1968 |
| Cecil County (this page) | 193 | 32.1% | 63.7% | 4.1% | 1972 |
| Garrett County | 139 | 20.1% | 68.3% | 11.5% | 1970 |
| Wicomico County | 99 | 27.3% | 66.7% | 6.1% | 1975 |
Each share is of that county's own total tracked bridges; peers are the counties with 5 or more bridges whose inventory size is closest to Cecil County's. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
Nationwide counties with similar inventory size or average build year
Two NBI-derived peer sets for Cecil County, both outside Maryland so the neighborhoods are not the same-state size table above.
Similar inventory size
Nearest county inventories outside MD (193 bridges here).
- Jo Daviess County, IL · 193 bridges
- Blue Earth County, MN · 193 bridges
- Jasper County, MS · 193 bridges
- Cooper County, MO · 193 bridges
Similar average build year
Nearest mean year-built outside MD (1972 here).
- Santa Clara County, CA · avg 1972 · 964 bridges
- Madison County, AL · avg 1972 · 710 bridges
- Kern County, CA · avg 1972 · 668 bridges
- York County, PA · avg 1972 · 569 bridges
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release. Peers floor at 10 bridges so stub inventories cannot own the match.
Fair-condition bridges (123)
RED TOAD ROAD
FairOver: CSX RAILROAD
0.67 MI S OF IS 95, Cecil, MD
Built 1973 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 2,391
PILOT TOWN ROAD
FairOver: CONOWINGO CREEK
0.61 MI E OF OAKWOOD RD, Cecil, MD
Built 1972 Load: 40.4 t ADT: 878
MD 213
FairOver: I-95
Milepost M105.9, Cecil, MD
Built 1963 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 9,031
OLD ELK NECK ROAD
FairOver: MILL CREEK
0.4 MI S OF MD 7, Cecil, MD
Built 2004 Load: 41.7 t ADT: 109
US 40 EB
FairOver: LITTLE ELK CREEK
0.19 MILE EAST OF MD 279, Cecil, MD
Built 1939 Load: 42.2 t ADT: 15,537
US 40 WB
FairOver: LITTLE ELK CREEK
0.19 MILE EAST OF MD 279, Cecil, MD
Built 1939 Load: 42.2 t ADT: 16,172
MD 279
FairOver: LITTLE ELK CREEK
0.19 MILE SOUTH OF MD 545, Cecil, MD
Built 1968 Load: 42.2 t ADT: 13,600
DR. MILLER ROAD
FairOver: WEST BRANCH
0.86 MI N OF MD 272, Cecil, MD
Built 1992 Load: 42.2 t ADT: 1,470
MD 222
FairOver: I-95
Milepost M93.4, Cecil, MD
Built 1963 Load: 42.6 t ADT: 17,842
I-95
FairOver: MD 279
Milepost M108.9, Cecil, MD
Built 1964 Load: 42.6 t ADT: 74,335
WARBURTON ROAD
FairOver: LITTLE NORTHEAST CREEK
1.39 MILES NE OF MD 272, Cecil, MD
Built 1994 Load: 43.1 t ADT: 3,672
US 1
FairOver: STONE RUN
0.35 MILE NORTH OF MD 276, Cecil, MD
Built 1956 Load: 44.0 t ADT: 7,802
MD 316
FairOver: I-95
Milepost M107.8, Cecil, MD
Built 1963 Load: 44.0 t ADT: 5,326
MD 272
FairOver: CSX TRANS.
0.7 MILE NORTH OF US 40, Cecil, MD
Built 1941 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 22,632
US 1
FairOver: BRANCH OF STONE RUN
1.45 MILE NORTH OF MD 276, Cecil, MD
Built 1956 Load: 44.9 t ADT: 7,802
BELVIDERE ROAD
FairOver: PRINCIPIO CREEK
0.03 MI S OF LINTON R RD, Cecil, MD
Built 1996 Load: 44.9 t ADT: 675
OLD ELK NECK ROAD
FairOver: AMTRAK
0.32 MI S OF US 40, Cecil, MD
Built 1980 Load: 44.9 t ADT: 5,968
MD 213
FairOver: LONG BRANCH
0.17 MILE NORTH OF MD 285, Cecil, MD
Built 1949 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 14,551
OLD ELK NECK ROAD
FairOver: PLUM CREEK
4 MI NW CHESAPEAKE CITY, Cecil, MD
Built 1992 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 777
RAGAN ROAD
FairOver: BRANCH OF OCTORARO CREEK
0.04 MI E OF JOHNSON RD, Cecil, MD
Built 1945 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 802
US 1
FairOver: OCTORARO CREEK
.54 MILE NORTH OF MD 591A, Cecil, MD
Built 1933 Load: 45.8 t ADT: 11,282
CHILDS ROAD
FairOver: LITTLE ELK CREEK
0.55 MI NE OF MD 545, Cecil, MD
Built 1946 Load: 45.8 t ADT: 964
I-95
FairOver: AMTRAK RR
Milepost M109.2, Cecil, MD
Built 1962 Load: 45.8 t ADT: 64,281
BAILIFF ROAD
FairOver: STONY RUN
0.97 MI S OF THEODORE RD, Cecil, MD
Built 1950 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 219
I-95 Northbound
FairOver: RED TOAD RD
Milepost M97.6, Cecil, MD
Built 1963 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 38,564
I-95 Southbound
FairOver: RED TOAD RD
Milepost M97.6, Cecil, MD
Built 1963 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 41,762
I-95
FairOver: LITTLE NORTHEAST CREEK
Milepost M101.2, Cecil, MD
Built 1963 Load: 47.6 t ADT: 78,625
RUSSELL ROAD
FairOver: GRAMIES RUN
0.05 MI N OF GALLAHER RD, Cecil, MD
Built 1982 Load: 48.1 t ADT: 204
I-95
FairOver: NORTHEAST CREEK
Milepost M100.3, Cecil, MD
Built 1963 Load: 48.5 t ADT: 78,625
WALNUT STREET
FairOver: STONE RUN
0.59 MI N OF MD 273, Cecil, MD
Built 1991 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 2,197
US 1
FairOver: BRANCH OF OCTARARO CREEK
.34 MILE SOUTH OF MD 591A, Cecil, MD
Built 1931 Load: 50.8 t ADT: 11,282
BETHEL CHURCH ROAD
FairOver: STONEY RUN
0.42 MI S OF BARON ROAD, Cecil, MD
Built 1968 Load: 50.8 t ADT: 1,047
DEAVER RD
FairOver: CSX RAILROAD
0.50 MI N OF MARLEY RD, Cecil, MD
Built 1940 Load: 50.8 t ADT: 857
MECHANICS VALLEY R
FairOver: AMTRAK
0.24 MI S OF US 40, Cecil, MD
Built 1980 Load: 50.8 t ADT: 8,365
I-95
FairOver: MD 545 LITTLE ELK CREEK
4.4 MI S OF MD LINE, Cecil, MD
Built 1963 Load: 50.8 t ADT: 78,625
MOUNT STREET
FairOver: STONE RUN
0.21 MI S OF US 1, Cecil, MD
Built 1960 Load: 51.2 t ADT: 1,162
I-95
FairOver: BIG ELK CREEK
1.9 MI S OF MD LINE, Cecil, MD
Built 1963 Load: 51.2 t ADT: 78,625
PROVIDENCE ROAD
FairOver: LITTLE ELK CREEK
0.54 MI W OF MD 213, Cecil, MD
Built 1981 Load: 51.7 t ADT: 639
IRON HILL ROAD
FairOver: PERSIMMON RUN
0.52 MI S OF MD 279, Cecil, MD
Built 1978 Load: 51.7 t ADT: 1,389
I-95
FairOver: B&O RR
Milepost M104.7, Cecil, MD
Built 1963 Load: 51.7 t ADT: 78,625
LEEDS ROAD
FairOver: LITTLE ELK CREEK
0.5 MI NE OF MD 545, Cecil, MD
Built 1967 Load: 52.6 t ADT: 2,203
DR JACK ROAD
FairOver: ABANDONED RAILROAD
0.12 MI S OF BASIN RUN RD, Cecil, MD
Built 1981 Load: 54.9 t ADT: 1,757
BLACK SNAKE ROAD
FairOver: LITTLE ELK CREEK
0.62 MI N OF LEEDS RD, Cecil, MD
Built 1979 Load: 55.3 t ADT: 545
MD 279
FairOver: BRANCH OF BIG ELK CREEK
0.84 MILE NORTH OF MD 316, Cecil, MD
Built 1959 Load: 55.8 t ADT: 12,804
MD 267
FairOver: RED RUM RUN
0.19 M W OF MARKET STREET, Cecil, MD
Built 1915 Load: 56.7 t ADT: 1,680
LITTLE EGYPT RD
FairOver: EAST BRANCH CHRISTIANA R
0.19 MI W OF MD 896, Cecil, MD
Built 1968 Load: 57.1 t ADT: 1,401
MD 279
FairOver: BIG ELK CREEK
0.04 MILE NORTH OF MD 268, Cecil, MD
Built 1960 Load: 57.6 t ADT: 14,060
MD 268
FairOver: AMTRAK
0.51 MILE WEST OF MD 279, Cecil, MD
Built 1987 Load: 58.0 t ADT: 6,284
SLICERS MILL ROAD
FairOver: STONE RUN
0.7 M NW OF US RTE 1, Cecil, MD
Built 1984 Load: 58.0 t ADT: 390
US 40
FairOver: STONY RUN
0.37 MILE WEST OF MD 272, Cecil, MD
Built 1940 Load: 59.0 t ADT: 21,540
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Related
Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainBridges
Every figure on PlainBridges 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. NBI condition categories reflect the latest reported inventory record, not a live safety, closure, or travel decision.