County profile · official public datasets

Howard County, MD

309 public highway bridges tracked in the FHWA National Bridge Inventory: 35.9% rated Good, 58.3% Fair, 5.8% Poor.

309
Public bridges
35.9%
Good condition
5.8%
Poor condition

The verdict

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

Howard County pairs a higher-than-median Poor-condition share among rated counties in the state with a newer average build year than the state inventory.

16th
of 24 on Poor share
5.8%
Poor-condition share
309
public highway bridges
1978
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.

Howard County Bridge Snapshot

According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory, Howard County ranks #16 of 24 Maryland counties with at least 5 public highway bridges on Poor-condition share (lower share ranks better; currently 5.8%). Howard County, Maryland contains 309 public highway bridges. Roughly 35.9% are rated “Good,” 58.3% “Fair,” and 5.8% “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

309

Public highway bridges in Howard County

Good condition

35.9%

111 of 309 rated 7-9

Fair condition

58.3%

180 of 309 rated 5-6

Poor condition

5.8%

18 of 309 rated 4 or below

In-state Poor-share rank

#16 of 24

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

Condition distribution

Share of 309 NBI-tracked bridges by lowest applicable component rating.

Good
35.9% (111)
Fair
58.3% (180)
Poor
5.8% (18)

Howard County's Poor-condition bridges carry 46,181 vehicle crossings a day

That is 0.5% of the county's reported daily bridge traffic on 5.8% of its bridges: Poor-condition structures carry less traffic than their share of the inventory. Each Poor bridge averages 2,566 crossings a day against 20,094 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 308 of 309 bridges in this county that report an average daily traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.

46.9% of Howard County's bridges have passed the 50-year mark

145 of the 309 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 35.9% 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 23.7% of the county's Poor-condition bridge traffic

TAMAR DRIVE over UNNAMED STREAM, built 1970, carries 10,941 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 18-bridge count understates how much of the daily burden sits on a single crossing.

Share is of the 46,181 daily crossings on Poor-rated bridges that report a traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.

When Howard County's bridges were built

309 bridges with a recorded construction year, grouped by decade

bridges

What this shows Construction peaked in the 1970s, when 81 of the county's bridges still in the inventory were built, which is 26.2% of those with a recorded year. That cohort is now 45 to 54 years old in the 2024 inventory. Its average build year is 1978, 6 years newer than the Maryland average of 1972.

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

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

The 5 Maryland counties nearest Howard County in number of bridges, with their condition splits. Its 5.8% Poor share is the 4th-lowest of these 6. Its average build year of 1978 against a peer-group mean of 1969 is 9 years newer.

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

Bridge inventory size and condition shares for Howard County and the 5 Maryland counties closest to it in inventory size
County Bridges Poor
Anne Arundel County 389 1.5%
Baltimore city County 374 8.6%
Howard County (this page) 309 5.8%
Washington County 300 4.7%
Harford County 275 4.7%
Allegany County 245 6.1%

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

Similar inventory size

Nearest county inventories outside MD (309 bridges here).

Similar average build year

Nearest mean year-built outside MD (1978 here).

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

All 309 Good 111 Fair 180 Poor 18

Fair-condition bridges (180)

US 1

Fair

Over: BEALMEAR BRANCH

0.46 MILE NORTH OF MD 100, Howard, MD

Built 1929 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 35,932

GUILFORD ROAD

Fair

Over: IS 95 SBR

1.74 MILES N OF US 1, Howard, MD

Built 1969 Load: 39.5 t ADT: 15,711

IS 95 NB

Fair

Over: MD 32 WBR

0.14 M S OF GUILFORD ROAD, Howard, MD

Built 1970 Load: 39.5 t ADT: 187,920

IS 95 NB

Fair

Over: CSX TRANSPORTATION

0.75 M N OF GUILFORD ROAD, Howard, MD

Built 1970 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 187,920

IS 95 SB

Fair

Over: CSX TRANSPORTATION

0.75 M N OF GUILFORD ROAD, Howard, MD

Built 1970 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 187,920

OLD COLUMBIA PIKE

Fair

Over: TIBER HUDSON BRANCH

0.01 MI E OF MAIN STREET, Howard, MD

Built 1997 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 5,887

COLUMBIA ROAD

Fair

Over: RED HILL BRANCH

0.4 MI N OF MD RTE 108, Howard, MD

Built 1986 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 4,946

US 29 NB

Fair

Over: FREDERICK ROAD

0.54 MILE SOUTH OF US 40, Howard, MD

Built 1948 Load: 40.4 t ADT: 130,203

IS 70 EB

Fair

Over: MD 97

3.17 MILES EAST OF MD 94, Howard, MD

Built 1973 Load: 40.4 t ADT: 72,612

IS 70 WB

Fair

Over: MD 97

3.17 MILES EAST OF MD 94, Howard, MD

Built 1973 Load: 40.4 t ADT: 72,612

MD 175 EB

Fair

Over: LITTLE PATUXENT RIVER

0.27 MILE NORTH OF US 29, Howard, MD

Built 1974 Load: 40.4 t ADT: 47,121

CENTENNIAL LANE

Fair

Over: CLARKS CREEK

0.3 MI N MD RTE 108, Howard, MD

Built 1987 Load: 40.4 t ADT: 9,265

MD 103

Fair

Over: DEEP RUN

0.89 MILE SOUTH OF US 1, Howard, MD

Built 1937 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 8,191

US 29 NB

Fair

Over: IS 70

0.44 MILE SOUTH OF MD 99, Howard, MD

Built 1966 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 11,870

MD 32 EB

Fair

Over: IS 95 SBR

1.74 MILES NORTH OF US 1, Howard, MD

Built 1970 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 15,262

US 29 RAMP 7

Fair

Over: US 29 NBR

0.36 MILE SOUTH OF MD 103, Howard, MD

Built 1992 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 11,348

US 29 SB

Fair

Over: FREDERICK ROAD

0.54 MILE SOUTH OF US 40, Howard, MD

Built 1966 Load: 41.3 t ADT: 130,203

MD 175 RAMP H

Fair

Over: LITTLE PATUXENT RIVER

0.27 MI S OF US 29, Howard, MD

Built 1970 Load: 41.3 t ADT: 1,170

LEISHEAR ROAD

Fair

Over: HAMMOND BRANCH

0.2 MI N OF MD RTE 216, Howard, MD

Built 1969 Load: 41.3 t ADT: 7,344

MINK HOLLOW ROAD

Fair

Over: PATUXENT RIVER

HOWARD-MONTGOMERY CO LINE, Howard, MD

Built 1908 Load: 41.7 t ADT: 1,209

MD 94

Fair

Over: PATUXENT RIVER

ON MONTGOMERY CO LINE, Howard, MD

Built 1990 Load: 42.2 t ADT: 3,022

W WATERSVILLE ROAD

Fair

Over: IS 70

0.16 MILE NORTH OF MD 144, Howard, MD

Built 1973 Load: 42.2 t ADT: 1,639

BROKEN LAND PKWY

Fair

Over: MD 32

0.47 MI N OF MD 732A, Howard, MD

Built 1981 Load: 42.2 t ADT: 32,730

BROCCOLINO WAY

Fair

Over: UNNAMED STREAM

1/8 MI S OF TRIADELPHIA R, Howard, MD

Built 2007 Load: 42.2 t ADT: 50

US 29 SB

Fair

Over: IS 70

0.44 MILE SOUTH OF MD 99, Howard, MD

Built 1966 Load: 43.1 t ADT: 10,111

MD 108 WB

Fair

Over: US 29

0.36 MILE WEST OF MD 108H, Howard, MD

Built 1986 Load: 43.1 t ADT: 19,880

MD 32 WB

Fair

Over: IS 95 SBR

1.74 MILES NORTH OF US 1, Howard, MD

Built 1970 Load: 43.5 t ADT: 91,311

MORGAN STATION RD

Fair

Over: IS 70

1.89 MI W OF MD 97, Howard, MD

Built 1973 Load: 43.5 t ADT: 999

FONT HILL DRIVE

Fair

Over: BR. LITTLE PATUXENT RIVE

AT FONT HILL PARK, Howard, MD

Built 1969 Load: 43.5 t ADT: 3,293

WATERSVILLE ROAD

Fair

Over: IS 70

0.32 MILE NORTH OF MD 144, Howard, MD

Built 1973 Load: 44.0 t ADT: 2,066

US 29 NB

Fair

Over: MIDDLE PATUXENT RIVER

1.05 MILES SOUTH OF MD 32, Howard, MD

Built 1951 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 52,913

MONTGOMERY ROAD

Fair

Over: IS 95

1.01 MI S OF IS 895, Howard, MD

Built 1969 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 6,764

MARRIOTTSVILLE RD

Fair

Over: IS 70

0.91 MI E OF US 40, Howard, MD

Built 1968 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 18,047

SNOWDEN RIVER PARK

Fair

Over: ROBERT FULTON DRIVE

1.0 MI S OF MD RTE 175, Howard, MD

Built 1975 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 35,944

IS 70 EB

Fair

Over: MD 32

2.12 MILES WEST OF US 40, Howard, MD

Built 1973 Load: 44.9 t ADT: 85,270

IS 70 WB

Fair

Over: MD 32

2.12 MILES WEST OF US 40, Howard, MD

Built 1973 Load: 44.9 t ADT: 85,270

MD 32 EB

Fair

Over: CSX TRANSPORTATION

ON ANNE ARUNDEL CO LINE, Howard, MD

Built 1983 Load: 44.9 t ADT: 65,902

SHEPPARD LANE

Fair

Over: MIDDLE PATUXENT RIVER

1.3 MI N OF MD RTE 108, Howard, MD

Built 1983 Load: 44.9 t ADT: 3,124

I-895 RAMP SB

Fair

Over: US 1 PATAPSCO RIVER

I-895 SB Milepost 1.08, Howard, MD

Built 1959 Load: 44.9 t ADT: 1,643

MD 216

Fair

Over: PATUXENT RIVER

ON PRINCE GEORGES CO LINE, Howard, MD

Built 1960 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 24,762

IS 95 SB

Fair

Over: STANSFIELD RD

0.50 MI N OF PG CO, Howard, MD

Built 1970 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 186,040

MD 175 WB & RMP B

Fair

Over: LITTLE PATUXENT RIVER

0.27 MILE NORTH OF US 29, Howard, MD

Built 1970 Load: 45.8 t ADT: 47,121

DUNLOGGIN ROAD

Fair

Over: PLUMTREE BRANCH

0.5 MI W OF ST JOHNS LANE, Howard, MD

Built 1965 Load: 45.8 t ADT: 1,621

IS 95 NB

Fair

Over: MIDDLE PATUXENT RIVER

0.18 MILE NORTH OF IS 95I, Howard, MD

Built 1970 Load: 46.7 t ADT: 186,750

IS 95 NB

Fair

Over: LITTLE PATUXENT RIVER

0.46 MILE SOUTH OF MD 32, Howard, MD

Built 1971 Load: 46.7 t ADT: 104,355

IS 70 RAMP 3

Fair

Over: TERRAPIN BRANCH

0.02 MILE WEST OF MD 32, Howard, MD

Built 1972 Load: 46.7 t ADT: 1,889

WOODLAND ROAD

Fair

Over: BRANCH OF LITTLE PATUXEN

0.01 MI N MD RTE 108, Howard, MD

Built 1935 Load: 46.7 t ADT: 3,512

BETHANY LANE

Fair

Over: IS 70

1.61 MI W OF US 29, Howard, MD

Built 1968 Load: 47.2 t ADT: 4,669

MD 32 WB

Fair

Over: CSX TRANSPORTATION

ON ANNE ARUNDEL CO LINE, Howard, MD

Built 1983 Load: 48.5 t ADT: 65,902

IS 70 EB

Fair

Over: IS 70 RAMP G(7)

0.23 MILE EAST OF US 29, Howard, MD

Built 1966 Load: 49.0 t ADT: 94,221

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.