Total bridges
74
Public highway bridges in Cape May County
County profile · official public datasets
Cape May County, NJ
74 public highway bridges tracked in the FHWA National Bridge Inventory: 20.3% rated Good, 67.6% Fair, 12.2% Poor.
- 74
- Public bridges
- 20.3%
- Good condition
- 12.2%
- Poor condition
The verdict
According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory.
Cape May 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.
- 21st
- of 21 on Poor share
- 12.2%
- Poor-condition share
- 74
- 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.
Cape May County Bridge Snapshot
According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory, Cape May County ranks #21 of 21 New Jersey counties with at least 5 public highway bridges on Poor-condition share (lower share ranks better; currently 12.2%). Cape May County, New Jersey contains 74 public highway bridges. Roughly 20.3% are rated “Good,” 67.6% “Fair,” and 12.2% “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
20.3%
15 of 74 rated 7-9
Fair condition
67.6%
50 of 74 rated 5-6
Poor condition
12.2%
9 of 74 rated 4 or below
In-state Poor-share rank
#21 of 21
Among New Jersey counties with 5+ bridges, lower share ranks better
Condition distribution
Share of 74 NBI-tracked bridges by lowest applicable component rating.
Good 20.3% (15)
Fair 67.6% (50)
Poor 12.2% (9)
Cape May County's Poor-condition bridges carry 71,961 vehicle crossings a day
That is 10.7% of the county's reported daily bridge traffic on 12.2% of its bridges: Poor-condition structures carry less traffic than their share of the inventory. Each Poor bridge averages 7,996 crossings a day against 8,454 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 74 of 74 bridges in this county that report an average daily traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
58.1% of Cape May County's bridges have passed the 50-year mark
43 of the 74 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 20.3% 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 31.9% of the county's Poor-condition bridge traffic
CR633(LAFAYETTE S) over CAPE ISLAND CREEK, built 1927, carries 22,960 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 9-bridge count understates how much of the daily burden sits on a single crossing.
Share is of the 71,961 daily crossings on Poor-rated bridges that report a traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
When Cape May County's bridges were built
74 bridges with a recorded construction year, grouped by decade
- 1920s 2
1920–1929
2 bridges
- 1930s
1930–1939
9 bridges
- 1940s 2
1940–1949
2 bridges
- 1950s
1950–1959
18 bridges
- 1960s
1960–1969
11 bridges
- 1970s 2
1970–1979
2 bridges
- 1980s 5
1980–1989
5 bridges
- 1990s
1990–1999
12 bridges
- 2000s 3
2000–2009
3 bridges
- 2010s
2010–2019
10 bridges
What this shows Construction peaked in the 1950s, when 18 of the county's bridges still in the inventory were built, which is 24.3% of those with a recorded year. That cohort is now 65 to 74 years old in the 2024 inventory. Its average build year is 1972, 6 years newer than the New Jersey average of 1966.
How Cape May County compares with New Jersey's closest counties by inventory size
The 5 New Jersey counties nearest Cape May County in number of bridges, with their condition splits. Its 12.2% Poor share is the 6th-lowest of these 6. Its average build year of 1972 against a peer-group mean of 1967 is 5 years newer.
Showing the 5 closest of 20 New Jersey counties eligible for comparison.
| County | Bridges | Good | Fair | Poor | Avg. built |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic County | 207 | 36.2% | 58% | 5.8% | 1975 |
| Hudson County | 202 | 21.3% | 72.3% | 6.4% | 1966 |
| Sussex County | 174 | 23% | 67.8% | 9.2% | 1961 |
| Salem County | 114 | 28.1% | 69.3% | 2.6% | 1965 |
| Cumberland County | 103 | 29.1% | 66% | 4.9% | 1968 |
| Cape May County (this page) | 74 | 20.3% | 67.6% | 12.2% | 1972 |
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 Cape May 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 Cape May County, both outside New Jersey so the neighborhoods are not the same-state size table above.
Similar inventory size
Nearest county inventories outside NJ (74 bridges here).
- Clinch County, GA · 74 bridges
- Decatur County, GA · 74 bridges
- Hart County, GA · 74 bridges
- Carlisle County, KY · 74 bridges
Similar average build year
Nearest mean year-built outside NJ (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 (50)
NJ 47 (DELSEA DR)
FairOver: BRANCH OF DENNIS CREEK
0.93 MI NORTH OF NJ 83, Cape May, NJ
Built 1928 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 14,448
SEA ISLE CITY BLVD
FairOver: SVC RDS&LUDLAM THOROFARE
0.5M NW OF OCEAN DR INTER, Cape May, NJ
Built 1963 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 11,862
EXIT RAMP TO NJ 50
FairOver: GSP SB
0.5 M SE OF RTS9&50 JCT, Cape May, NJ
Built 1954 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 1,710
CR623(ROOSEVELT B)
FairOver: SVC RDS CROOK HORN THORO
0.6MI SW OF BAY AVE INTER, Cape May, NJ
Built 1962 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 19,380
CR621(OCEAN DR)
FairOver: MILL CREEK
0.75 MI E.OF GSP & NJ 109, Cape May, NJ
Built 1939 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 9,880
GSP NB
FairOver: JONES CREEK
2.4 MI NE OF US9&GSP JCT., Cape May, NJ
Built 1954 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 6,368
GSP SB
FairOver: JONES CREEK
2.4 MI NE OF US9&GSP JCT., Cape May, NJ
Built 1954 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 4,542
NJ 47-WILDWOODBLVD
FairOver: GRASSY SOUND
2.84 MI SOUTH OF RT US 9, Cape May, NJ
Built 1950 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 18,048
CR657(S.DENNIS RD)
FairOver: SLUICE CREEK
1 MI. SOUTH OF NJSH 47, Cape May, NJ
Built 1977 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 9,600
GSP SB
FairOver: PENN READING SEASHORE RR
2.75 M NE OF RTS9&50 JCT, Cape May, NJ
Built 1954 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 14,170
GSP SB
FairOver: ROOSEVELT BLVD (CR 623)
2 MI S OF EGG HARBOR BR, Cape May, NJ
Built 1954 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 12,660
CR601(AVALON BVD)
FairOver: INGRAMS THOROFARE
1.25 M W OF OCEAN DR INT., Cape May, NJ
Built 1967 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 10,400
CR601(AVALON BLVD)
FairOver: LEONARDS THOROFARE
2 MI W OF OCEAN DR INTER, Cape May, NJ
Built 1967 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 11,490
Route US 9
FairOver: Delaware Bay
Cape May Ferry Terminal, Cape May, NJ
Built 1964 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 1,237
Route US 9
FairOver: Delaware Bay
Cape May Ferry Terminal, Cape May, NJ
Built 1964 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 1,237
Route US 9
FairOver: Delaware Bay
Cape May Ferry Terminal, Cape May, NJ
Built 1981 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 1,237
GSP NB
FairOver: PENN READING SEASHORE RR
2.75 M NE OF RTS9&50 JCT, Cape May, NJ
Built 1954 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 14,110
NJ 47
FairOver: SLUICE CREEK
1.56 MI S OF NJ-83, Cape May, NJ
Built 1935 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 12,882
NJ 50
FairOver: CONRAIL BEESLEYS PT SEC
5 MI N OF NJ 50/US 9 INT, Cape May, NJ
Built 1994 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 5,639
GSP NB
FairOver: NJ 147(N.WILDWOOD BL)
0.35 M E OF RTS9&147 JCT, Cape May, NJ
Built 1954 Load: 30.1 t ADT: 12,174
HAND AVE(CR 658)
FairOver: SKEETER ISLAND CREEK
0.46 Mls East of Rt 47, Cape May, NJ
Built 1982 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 2,220
NJ 50
FairOver: CEDAR SWAMP CREEK
3 MI N OF NJ 50/US 9 INT., Cape May, NJ
Built 1961 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 6,897
GSP SB
FairOver: NJ 47 (WILDWOOD BLVD)
0.7 M SE OF RTS47&9 JCT, Cape May, NJ
Built 1954 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 8,810
NJ 83
FairOver: CAPE MAY BRANCH
0.15 MI EAST OF NJ 47, Cape May, NJ
Built 1940 Load: 31.8 t ADT: 6,392
GSP SB
FairOver: NJ 147(N.WILDWOOD BL)
0.35 M E OF RTS9&147 JCT, Cape May, NJ
Built 1954 Load: 32.1 t ADT: 14,383
GSP NB
FairOver: ROOSEVELT BLVD (CR 623)
2 MI S OF EGG HARBOR BR, Cape May, NJ
Built 1954 Load: 32.1 t ADT: 12,660
ELMIRA STREET
FairOver: CAPE ISLAND CREEK
0.25 MI NORTH OF BROAD ST, Cape May, NJ
Built 1985 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,444
GSP NB
FairOver: NJ 47 (WILDWOOD BLVD.)
0.7 M SE OF RTS47&9 JCT, Cape May, NJ
Built 1954 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 7,850
OCEAN DRIVE CR 656
FairOver: GREAT EGG HARBOR
2.9 m N of 9th St (NJ 52), Cape May, NJ
Built 2002 Load: 35.4 t ADT: 3,592
GSP NB
FairOver: ABANDONED PENN READINGRR
2.25 MI NE OF GSP&47 JCT, Cape May, NJ
Built 1954 Load: 38.2 t ADT: 11,706
NJ 52
FairOver: Beach Thoro & Rainbow Ch
1.7 mi S of US9, Cape May, NJ
Built 2012 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 23,432
GSP SB
FairOver: SEA ISLE BLVD (CR 625)
2.25 M NE OF RTS 9&83 JCT, Cape May, NJ
Built 1954 Load: 39.2 t ADT: 15,780
GSP NB
FairOver: AVALON BLVD (CR 601)
1.75 M S OF RTS9&83 JCT, Cape May, NJ
Built 1954 Load: 40.2 t ADT: 11,908
GSP SB
FairOver: ABANDONED PENN READINGRR
2.25 M NE OF GSP&RT47 JCT, Cape May, NJ
Built 1954 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 11,408
GSP NB
FairOver: SEA ISLE BLVD (CR625)
2.25 M NE OF RTS9&83 JCT, Cape May, NJ
Built 1954 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 12,460
CR631(TUCKAHOE RD)
FairOver: CEDAR SWAMP CREEK
3.5 M W OF RT9 INTERSECT, Cape May, NJ
Built 1968 Load: 41.7 t ADT: 10,589
AVALON BLVD CR 601
FairOver: GRAVENS THOROFARE
0.82 W OF OCEAN DR INTER., Cape May, NJ
Built 1967 Load: 42.6 t ADT: 9,675
104TH STREET
FairOver: CARNIVAL BAY
.07 MI.W.OF OCEAN DRIVE, Cape May, NJ
Built 1987 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 905
ROUTE NJ 47
FairOver: BIDWELLS CREEK
8.43 MILES NORTH OF US 9, Cape May, NJ
Built 1992 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 6,084
NJ 147
FairOver: GRASSY SOUND
2.4 MI E OF RT9&147 JCT, Cape May, NJ
Built 1994 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 9,940
CR 601 (AVALON BV)
FairOver: AVALON CANAL
100 FT W OF 30TH&OCEAN DR, Cape May, NJ
Built 1967 Load: 49.0 t ADT: 10,660
COUNTY ROUTE 657
FairOver: SCOTCH BONNET CREEK
2 MI E OF PARKWAY EXIT, Cape May, NJ
Built 1998 Load: 49.0 t ADT: 6,880
NJ 147
FairOver: MILL TRAIL CREEK
1.0 MI E.OF 9-147, Cape May, NJ
Built 1997 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 11,800
NJ 147
FairOver: BEACH CREEK
2.9 MI EAST OF GSP, Cape May, NJ
Built 1993 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 10,222
NJ 47
FairOver: DENNIS CREEK
0.2 MI N OF NJ 83 & NJ 47, Cape May, NJ
Built 2007 Load: 50.9 t ADT: 17,746
25TH STREET
FairOver: AVALON CANAL
.03 MI.W.OF OCEAN DRIVE, Cape May, NJ
Built 1987 Load: 53.5 t ADT: 2,325
CR 619(OCEAN DRVE)
FairOver: MIDDLE THOROFARE
5 miles North of CR 625, Cape May, NJ
Built 1990 Load: 55.3 t ADT: 900
NJ 162
FairOver: CAPE MAY CANAL
0.5 MI SOUTH OF US 9, Cape May, NJ
Built 1971 Load: 58.1 t ADT: 16,050
21ST STREET
FairOver: AVALON CANAL
0.03 MI WEST OCEAN DRIVE, Cape May, NJ
Built 1990 Load: 60.8 t ADT: 1,805
NJ 109
FairOver: CAPE MAY CANAL & SERV RD
1.24 MI S OF US RT 9 JCT, Cape May, NJ
Built 1960 Load: 60.8 t ADT: 14,270
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.