County profile · official public datasets

Ocean County, NJ

241 public highway bridges tracked in the FHWA National Bridge Inventory: 45.6% rated Good, 51.5% Fair, 2.9% Poor.

241
Public bridges
45.6%
Good condition
2.9%
Poor condition

The verdict

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

Ocean County pairs a top-quartile lowest Poor-condition share among rated counties in the state with a newer average build year than the state inventory.

Top 19%
lowest Poor share in state
2.9%
Poor-condition share
241
public highway bridges
1981
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.

Ocean County Bridge Snapshot

According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory, Ocean County ranks #4 of 21 New Jersey counties with at least 5 public highway bridges on Poor-condition share (lower share ranks better; currently 2.9%). Ocean County, New Jersey contains 241 public highway bridges. Roughly 45.6% are rated “Good,” 51.5% “Fair,” and 2.9% “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

241

Public highway bridges in Ocean County

Good condition

45.6%

110 of 241 rated 7-9

Fair condition

51.5%

124 of 241 rated 5-6

Poor condition

2.9%

7 of 241 rated 4 or below

In-state Poor-share rank

#4 of 21

Among New Jersey counties with 5+ bridges, lower share ranks better

Condition distribution

Share of 241 NBI-tracked bridges by lowest applicable component rating.

Good
45.6% (110)
Fair
51.5% (124)
Poor
2.9% (7)

Ocean County's Poor-condition bridges carry 100,073 vehicle crossings a day

That is 2.1% of the county's reported daily bridge traffic on 2.9% of its bridges: Poor-condition structures carry less traffic than their share of the inventory. Each Poor bridge averages 14,296 crossings a day against 25,204 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 241 of 241 bridges in this county that report an average daily traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.

37.3% of Ocean County's bridges have passed the 50-year mark

90 of the 241 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 45.6% 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 34.4% of the county's Poor-condition bridge traffic

NJ 35 over WILLS HOLE MANASQUAN RIV, built 1950, carries 34,451 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 7-bridge count understates how much of the daily burden sits on a single crossing.

Share is of the 100,073 daily crossings on Poor-rated bridges that report a traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.

When Ocean County's bridges were built

241 bridges with a recorded construction year, grouped by decade

bridges

What this shows Construction peaked in the 2010s, when 48 of the county's bridges still in the inventory were built, which is 19.9% of those with a recorded year. That cohort is now 5 to 14 years old in the 2024 inventory. Its average build year is 1981, 15 years newer than the New Jersey average of 1966.

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

How Ocean County compares with New Jersey's closest counties by inventory size

The 5 New Jersey counties nearest Ocean County in number of bridges, with their condition splits. Its 2.9% Poor share is the 2nd-lowest of these 6. Its average build year of 1981 against a peer-group mean of 1965 is 16 years newer.

Showing the 5 closest of 20 New Jersey counties eligible for comparison.

Bridge inventory size and condition shares for Ocean County and the 5 New Jersey counties closest to it in inventory size
County Bridges Poor
Warren County 268 4.5%
Camden County 261 6.5%
Gloucester County 243 2.5%
Ocean County (this page) 241 2.9%
Atlantic County 207 5.8%
Hudson County 202 6.4%

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 Ocean 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 Ocean County, both outside New Jersey so the neighborhoods are not the same-state size table above.

Similar inventory size

Nearest county inventories outside NJ (241 bridges here).

Similar average build year

Nearest mean year-built outside NJ (1981 here).

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

All 241 Good 110 Fair 124 Poor 7

All bridges (241)

BREWERS BRIDGE RD

Fair

Over: SO. BRANCH METEDECONK R.

0.45 Mi. W. of CR 526, Ocean, NJ

Built 1974 Load: 14.5 t ADT: 9,168

COWS HEAD ROAD

Fair

Over: CEDAR CREEK

DOUBLE TROUBLE STATE PARK, Ocean, NJ

Built 1900 Load: 14.5 t ADT: 12

PARK ROAD

Fair

Over: SHENANDOAH SPILLWAY

0.4 MI. S of NJ 88, Ocean, NJ

Built 1973 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 107

RAILROAD AVENUE

Fair

Over: WESTECUNK CREEK

.4 MI. N. OF CR 602, Ocean, NJ

Built 1967 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 1,194

North Lake Drive

Fair

Over: Arm of Lake Carasaljo

0.78 MI W OF US 9, Ocean, NJ

Built 1890 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 4,225

ROUTE 72

Fair

Over: MILL CREEK

.2 MI WEST OF GSP, Ocean, NJ

Built 1930 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 53,624

NEW GUINEA ROAD

Fair

Over: CEDAR CREEK

DOUBLE TROUBLE STATE PARK, Ocean, NJ

Built 1900 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 9

RT 528

Fair

Over: BARNEGAT BAY

500 FT W. OF NJ 35, Ocean, NJ

Built 2006 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 14,127

RIDGE AVE

Fair

Over: NO BRCH METEDECONK RIVER

.6 MI N OF RT 526, Ocean, NJ

Built 1990 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 6,759

NJ 13

Fair

Over: PT PLEASANT CANAL

0.9 MI. W. OF RT 35, Ocean, NJ

Built 1971 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 15,203

HOVSONS BOULEVARD

Fair

Over: POLHEMUS BR OF KETTLE CK

0.05 Mi S of Yorktowne Bl, Ocean, NJ

Built 1966 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 997

NJ 72

Fair

Over: EAST THOROFARE

0.6 MI WEST OF COUNTY 607, Ocean, NJ

Built 1958 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 23,414

NJ 35

Fair

Over: Manasquan River

1.38 miles south of NJ 70, Ocean, NJ

Built 1950 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 24,034

BAYVIEW AVE CR 617

Fair

Over: SLOOP CREEK

.17MI NO. OF SLOOP CRK RD, Ocean, NJ

Built 1987 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 2,104

Double Trouble Rd

Fair

Over: CEDAR CREEK

DOUBLE TROUBLE STATE PARK, Ocean, NJ

Built 1975 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 30

COLLIERS MILLS RD

Fair

Over: TRIBUTARY OF RIDGEWAY BR

1.0 MI EAST OF RT 539, Ocean, NJ

Built 1987 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 37

NJ 37 EB

Fair

Over: Barnegat Bay

1.51 mi W of RT 35, Ocean, NJ

Built 1950 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 23,786

GSP

Fair

Over: TOMS RIVER

0.5 MI S OF JCT GSP & 527, Ocean, NJ

Built 1952 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 124,401

US 9

Fair

Over: WATERING PLACE BROOK

0.3 MI S OF RT 88 JCT, Ocean, NJ

Built 1908 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 23,305

RT 549

Fair

Over: SOUTH BR OF KETTLE CREEK

0.2 mi N of CR 620, Ocean, NJ

Built 1987 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 42,046

GREAT BAY BLVD

Fair

Over: JIMMIES OLD CREEK

3.8 Mi. S. of Rt. US 9, Ocean, NJ

Built 1985 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 166

GREAT BAY BLVD.

Fair

Over: LITTLE THOROFARE

3.25 Mi. S. of Rt. US 9, Ocean, NJ

Built 1985 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 175

COLONIAL DRIVE N

Fair

Over: UNION BRANCH TOMS RIVER

0.25 Mi N of Rt NJ 37, Ocean, NJ

Built 1968 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 889

COLONIAL DRIVE S

Fair

Over: UNION BRANCH TOMS RIVER

0.25 Mi N of Rt NJ 37, Ocean, NJ

Built 1968 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 889

NAUTILUS DRIVE

Fair

Over: FOURMILE BRANCH

1.1 MILE SOUTH RT 554, Ocean, NJ

Built 1974 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 2,127

HARPOON DRIVE

Fair

Over: FOURMILE BRANCH TRIBUTAR

0.5 MI WEST LIGHTHOUSE DR, Ocean, NJ

Built 1974 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 2,173

GSP SB ENTR RAMP

Fair

Over: MILL CREEK

1.9 MI NE OF 59&NJ 72 JCT, Ocean, NJ

Built 1954 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 6,620

CR 632(BRIDGE AVE)

Fair

Over: SCOW DITCH

0.1 MI.W.OF NJ 35, Ocean, NJ

Built 1937 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 14,469

GREAT BAY BLVD

Fair

Over: BIG THOROFARE

2.5 Mi S of Rt. US 9, Ocean, NJ

Built 1995 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 195

MORNINGSIDE DRIVE

Fair

Over: RIDGEWAY BR. TOMS RIVER

0.2 MI. S. OF RT. 571, Ocean, NJ

Built 1980 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 606

US 9

Fair

Over: CEDAR CREEK

5.92 MI N OF US 9-532 JCT, Ocean, NJ

Built 1923 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 21,480

CR 528 (Main St)

Fair

Over: CROSSWICKS CREEK

3 MI. WEST OF RT 539, Ocean, NJ

Built 1985 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 11,140

BRINDLETOWN ROAD

Fair

Over: BRCH OF CROSSWICKS CREEK

1.41 Mi S. of CR 528, Ocean, NJ

Built 1976 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 997

GSP

Fair

Over: ABANDONED CONRAIL

0.15 MI. N OF TOMS RIVER, Ocean, NJ

Built 1951 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 126,680

US 9

Fair

Over: MILL CREEK

0.06 MI N OF NJ 72, Ocean, NJ

Built 1924 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 20,800

US 9

Fair

Over: S.BRANCH OF FORKED RIVER

10 MI N OF NJ 72 JCT., Ocean, NJ

Built 1967 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 16,800

RT NJ 70

Fair

Over: N BR METEDECONK RIVER

0.2 MI SW OF ROUTE 88 JCT, Ocean, NJ

Built 1937 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 33,880

ROUTE NJ 72

Fair

Over: HILLIARD THOROFARE

3.3 MI EAST OF US 9, Ocean, NJ

Built 1959 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 22,588

US 9

Fair

Over: OYSTER CREEK

9 MI N OF NJ 72 JCT., Ocean, NJ

Built 1967 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 23,730

NJ 70

Fair

Over: BLACKS BROOK

1.16 MI SW OF 70-547 JCT, Ocean, NJ

Built 1938 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 24,462

RT 549(Hooper Ave)

Fair

Over: Long Swamp Creek

1.1 Mile East of NJ 37, Ocean, NJ

Built 1975 Load: 31.8 t ADT: 27,319

BIMINI DRIVE

Fair

Over: WRANGLE BROOK

1.3 MI S. OF RT 37, Ocean, NJ

Built 1997 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 3,864

CR 631(HOOPER AVE)

Fair

Over: LONG CAUSEWAY BRANCH

0.5 MI N BRICK BLVD., Ocean, NJ

Built 1976 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 11,711

RT 571

Fair

Over: MAIN BRANCH TOMS RIVER

1.35 mi NORTH OF US 9, Ocean, NJ

Built 1984 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 18,741

RT 547

Fair

Over: UNION BRANCH TOMS RIVER

.05 MI NORTH RT 70, Ocean, NJ

Built 1977 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 14,218

MARSHA DRIVE

Fair

Over: FOX ISLAND CREEK

.14 MI S. OF RTE 72, Ocean, NJ

Built 1979 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,363

NJ 70

Fair

Over: NORTH BR OF TOMS RIVER

1.9 MI W OF US 9 JCT, Ocean, NJ

Built 1936 Load: 34.5 t ADT: 30,561

Don Connor Blvd

Fair

Over: TOMS RIVER

0.82 Mi. N. of CR 528, Ocean, NJ

Built 1964 Load: 34.5 t ADT: 6,983

CEDAR RUN DOCK RD

Fair

Over: SHEEP PEN DITCH

1.53 MI E. OF US 9, Ocean, NJ

Built 1980 Load: 34.5 t ADT: 681

US ROUTE 9

Fair

Over: NJ ROUTE 70

3.0 MI S OF NJ 88 JCT, Ocean, NJ

Built 1935 Load: 35.3 t ADT: 22,544

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.