County profile · official public datasets

Frederick County, MD

486 public highway bridges tracked in the FHWA National Bridge Inventory: 43.2% rated Good, 54.1% Fair, 2.7% Poor.

486
Public bridges
43.2%
Good condition
2.7%
Poor condition

The verdict

According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory.

Frederick County posts a top-quartile lowest Poor-condition share among rated counties in the state across mid-size county bridge inventory.

Top 25%
lowest Poor share in state
2.7%
Poor-condition share
486
public highway bridges
1971
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.

Frederick County Bridge Snapshot

According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory, Frederick County ranks #6 of 24 Maryland counties with at least 5 public highway bridges on Poor-condition share (lower share ranks better; currently 2.7%). Frederick County, Maryland contains 486 public highway bridges. Roughly 43.2% are rated “Good,” 54.1% “Fair,” and 2.7% “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.

Total bridges

486

Public highway bridges in Frederick County

Good condition

43.2%

210 of 486 rated 7-9

Fair condition

54.1%

263 of 486 rated 5-6

Poor condition

2.7%

13 of 486 rated 4 or below

In-state Poor-share rank

#6 of 24

Among Maryland counties with 5+ bridges, lower share ranks better

Condition distribution

Share of 486 NBI-tracked bridges by lowest applicable component rating.

Good
43.2% (210)
Fair
54.1% (263)
Poor
2.7% (13)

Frederick County's Poor-condition bridges carry 17,033 vehicle crossings a day

That is 0.3% of the county's reported daily bridge traffic on 2.7% of its bridges: Poor-condition structures carry less traffic than their share of the inventory. Each Poor bridge averages 1,310 crossings a day against 7,809 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 486 of 486 bridges in this county that report an average daily traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.

47.5% of Frederick County's bridges have passed the 50-year mark

231 of the 486 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 43.2% 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 39.6% of the county's Poor-condition bridge traffic

SHOOKSTOWN ROAD over CARROLL CREEK, built 1911, carries 6,750 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 13-bridge count understates how much of the daily burden sits on a single crossing.

Share is of the 17,033 daily crossings on Poor-rated bridges that report a traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.

When Frederick County's bridges were built

486 bridges with a recorded construction year, grouped by decade

bridges

What this shows Construction peaked in the 1980s, when 104 of the county's bridges still in the inventory were built, which is 21.4% of those with a recorded year. That cohort is now 35 to 44 years old in the 2024 inventory. Its average build year (1971) matches the Maryland average (1972).

Source FHWA National Bridge Inventory (year built) As of 2024 NBI release

How Frederick County compares with Maryland's closest counties by inventory size

The 5 Maryland counties nearest Frederick County in number of bridges, with their condition splits. Its 2.7% Poor share is the 2nd-lowest of these 6. Its average build year of 1971 against a peer-group mean of 1975 is in line with the group.

Showing the 5 closest of 23 Maryland counties eligible for comparison.

Bridge inventory size and condition shares for Frederick County and the 5 Maryland counties closest to it in inventory size
County Bridges Poor
Prince George's County 576 3.1%
Montgomery County 515 4.9%
Frederick County (this page) 486 2.7%
Anne Arundel County 389 1.5%
Baltimore city County 374 8.6%
Howard County 309 5.8%

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 Frederick 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 Frederick County, both outside Maryland so the neighborhoods are not the same-state size table above.

Similar inventory size

Nearest county inventories outside MD (486 bridges here).

Similar average build year

Nearest mean year-built outside MD (1971 here).

Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release. Peers floor at 10 bridges so stub inventories cannot own the match.

All 486 Good 210 Fair 263 Poor 13

Good-condition bridges (210)

MONOCACY BOULEVARD

Good

Over: MONOCACY RIVER

0.1 MI SOUTH OF GAS HOUSE, Frederick, MD

Built 2019 Load: 40.2 t ADT: 5,912

OLD MIDDLETOWN RD

Good

Over: CONE BRANCH

0.25 MI SOUTH OF MD 17, Frederick, MD

Built 1974 Load: 40.4 t ADT: 966

KELBAUGH ROAD

Good

Over: OWENS CREEK

AT FRANKLINVILLE RD INT, Frederick, MD

Built 2001 Load: 40.4 t ADT: 533

LENHART ROAD

Good

Over: FISHING CREEK

0.25 M E OLD FREDERICK RD, Frederick, MD

Built 1982 Load: 41.3 t ADT: 56

GAS HOUSE PIKE

Good

Over: LINGANORE CREEK

1.0 MI W OF CNTRL CHURCH, Frederick, MD

Built 2021 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 11,825

OLD ANNAPOLIS ROAD

Good

Over: LINGANORE CREEK

0.9 MI W OF MD 75, Frederick, MD

Built 1989 Load: 41.7 t ADT: 2,931

GAS HOUSE PIKE

Good

Over: LINGANORE CREEK

1.0 MI W OF CNTRL CHURCH, Frederick, MD

Built 2021 Load: 41.8 t ADT: 11,825

LEWISTOWN ROAD

Good

Over: FISHING CREEK

0.3 MI E OF HESSONG BRDG, Frederick, MD

Built 1920 Load: 41.8 t ADT: 466

MD 464 (POINT OF R

Good

Over: LITTLE CATOCTIN CREEK

2.16 MILES EAST OF MD 17, Frederick, MD

Built 2020 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 4,400

CHRISTOPHERS CROSS

Good

Over: TRIBUTARY 89

0.2 MI E OF WATER MARTZ R, Frederick, MD

Built 2019 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 4,430

MD 478

Good

Over: BR OF POTOMAC RIVER

1.78 MI S. EAST OF MD 180, Frederick, MD

Built 2019 Load: 42.6 t ADT: 2,471

SPRUCE RUN ROAD

Good

Over: MIDDLE CREEK

0.1 MI N OF MD RTE 17, Frederick, MD

Built 1982 Load: 42.6 t ADT: 181

HOLLOW ROAD

Good

Over: LITTLE CATOCTIN CREEK

AT HARMONY RD INT, Frederick, MD

Built 1981 Load: 42.6 t ADT: 126

US 15 NBR

Good

Over: MD 26

0.15 MILE NORTH OF MD 26, Frederick, MD

Built 2018 Load: 43.1 t ADT: 42,640

SAMS CREEK ROAD

Good

Over: SAMS CREEK

0.45 MI E OF MD RTE 31, Frederick, MD

Built 1987 Load: 43.1 t ADT: 412

BALLENGER CREEK PI

Good

Over: STORMWATER CHANNEL RELIE

2.27 MI. SOUTH OF I-70, Frederick, MD

Built 2012 Load: 43.5 t ADT: 2,462

IS 270

Good

Over: MD 85 (Buckeystown Pike)

1.0 N OF BR NO 1007400, Frederick, MD

Built 2020 Load: 43.7 t ADT: 111,550

MD 144FA

Good

Over: CARROLL CREEK

0.21 M E OF MARYLAND AVE, Frederick, MD

Built 1995 Load: 44.0 t ADT: 8,541

FLAG POND ROAD

Good

Over: DOUBS BRANCH

100 EAST OF BALLENGER CR, Frederick, MD

Built 1986 Load: 44.0 t ADT: 12

BRIDGEPORT ROAD

Good

Over: CATTAIL BRANCH

0.5 MI SW OF MD 140, Frederick, MD

Built 1978 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 73

MOSER ROAD

Good

Over: HUNTING CREEK

0.5 MI SE OF FREDERICK RD, Frederick, MD

Built 1975 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 1,372

US 15B

Good

Over: US 15/US 40

0.39 MILE NORTH OF MD 180, Frederick, MD

Built 1955 Load: 44.9 t ADT: 45,900

KNOLLS PARKWAY

Good

Over: PLEASANT BRANCH

AT MD RT. 75 INTERSECTION, Frederick, MD

Built 1992 Load: 44.9 t ADT: 1,000

DOLLYHYDE ROAD

Good

Over: DOLLYHYDE CREEK

1.0 MI SOUTH OF MD RTE 26, Frederick, MD

Built 1982 Load: 44.9 t ADT: 186

EYLERS VALLEY ROAD

Good

Over: TRIB. OF OWENS CREEK

0.1 MI NE OF MD RTE 550, Frederick, MD

Built 1983 Load: 44.9 t ADT: 295

IS 70 WBR

Good

Over: US 40 EBR(RAMP 5)

0.5 MILE EAST OF MD 180, Frederick, MD

Built 2002 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 94,760

DAYSVILLE ROAD

Good

Over: CABBAGE RUN

0.8 MI EAST OF MD 194, Frederick, MD

Built 1975 Load: 45.8 t ADT: 1,619

MD 85

Good

Over: IS 70

AT IS 70, Frederick, MD

Built 2009 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 35,962

FORD ROAD

Good

Over: CLIFFORD BRANCH

0.6 MI W OPPOSSUMTOWN PIK, Frederick, MD

Built 1980 Load: 46.7 t ADT: 414

MD 140

Good

Over: FLAT RUN

0.4 MI E OF EMMITSBURG, Frederick, MD

Built 2019 Load: 47.0 t ADT: 9,011

BUCK LANTZ ROAD

Good

Over: OWENS CREEK

AT FOXVLLE DEERFLD RD INT, Frederick, MD

Built 1982 Load: 47.2 t ADT: 141

RAVEN ROCK PARK RD

Good

Over: OWENS CREEK

AT FOXVLLE DEERFLD RD INT, Frederick, MD

Built 1981 Load: 47.2 t ADT: 57

FISHERS HOLLOW RD

Good

Over: LITTLE CATOCTIN CREEK

AT HARMONY RD INT, Frederick, MD

Built 1983 Load: 47.2 t ADT: 337

OTHELLO REGIONAL P

Good

Over: LOCAL STREAM

SOUTH OF MD 180, Frederick, MD

Built 2020 Load: 47.3 t ADT: 200

MD 17

Good

Over: MIDDLE CREEK

0.9 MILE NORTH OF US 40, Frederick, MD

Built 2005 Load: 47.6 t ADT: 1,951

MD 17

Good

Over: MIDDLE CREEK

AT MIDDLE POINT ROAD, Frederick, MD

Built 2005 Load: 48.1 t ADT: 1,951

BALLENGER CREEK PI

Good

Over: BR OF TUSCARORA CREEK

SOUTH OF CAP STINE RD INT, Frederick, MD

Built 2009 Load: 48.1 t ADT: 1,797

LENHART ROAD

Good

Over: FISHING CREEK

0.25 M N DEVILBLISS BR RD, Frederick, MD

Built 1980 Load: 48.1 t ADT: 213

MD 194

Good

Over: LITTLE PIPE CREEK

ON CARROLL CO LINE, Frederick, MD

Built 1953 Load: 48.3 t ADT: 4,425

IS 70 EBR

Good

Over: MONOCACY RIVER

0.22 M S OF BR NO 1018400, Frederick, MD

Built 1985 Load: 48.5 t ADT: 72,900

IS 70 WBR

Good

Over: MONOCACY RIVER

0.22 M S OF BR NO 1018400, Frederick, MD

Built 1985 Load: 48.5 t ADT: 72,900

LINGANORE ROAD

Good

Over: IS 70

@ IS 270, Frederick, MD

Built 1985 Load: 49.4 t ADT: 550

COXEY BROWN ROAD

Good

Over: LITTLE CATOCTIN CREEK

AT HARMONY RD INT, Frederick, MD

Built 1983 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 517

MONUMENT ROAD

Good

Over: GRINDSTONE RUN

0.75 MI WEST OF MD RTE 17, Frederick, MD

Built 1982 Load: 50.3 t ADT: 421

PARKING LOT ROAD

Good

Over: BLUE BLAZES CREEK

US-15N WEST ON MC-77 TO, Frederick, MD

Built 2019 Load: 50.8 t ADT: 20

US 40 EBR

Good

Over: IS 70 RAMP F (02)

0.09 M W OF KEHNE ROAD, Frederick, MD

Built 1969 Load: 50.9 t ADT: 7,362

BIDLE ROAD

Good

Over: CATOCTIN CREEK

0.5 MI SOUTH OF ALT US 40, Frederick, MD

Built 2009 Load: 51.2 t ADT: 650

SIXES ROAD

Good

Over: TOMS CREEK

0.4 MI SOUTH OF GRIMES RD, Frederick, MD

Built 2006 Load: 51.2 t ADT: 60

ALLEN LINTON BLVD

Good

Over: TRIBUTARY OF BALLENGER C

W OF BALLENGER CREEK PIKE, Frederick, MD

Built 2008 Load: 51.2 t ADT: 585

NEW DESIGN ROAD

Good

Over: IS 270

1.03 MI N OF MD 85, Frederick, MD

Built 2001 Load: 51.7 t ADT: 16,733

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Related

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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.