Ri 78 West By-pass over Pawcatuck River
New London County, Connecticut · rated Fair in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory
United States Bridge Conditions2025 National Bridge Inventory, FHWACompiled
- Ri 78 West By-pass over Pawcatuck River in New London County, Connecticut, is rated in fair condition in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory (as of ).
- Its lowest-rated component is the substructure, rated 5 (fair condition) on the 0-9 scale.
- It was built in 1974, making it 51 years old at the 2025 inventory.
- It carries about 13,100 vehicles a day (traffic count year 2008).
- Its listed owner is the state highway agency.
- It is one of 298 of the 442 inventoried bridges in New London County rated fair (67.4%); 23 (5.2%) are rated poor.
- Its traffic status in the 2025 inventory is open, no restriction (NBI item 41).
- Its condition class and component ratings are unchanged from the 2024 inventory.
- Its most recent inspection on record is dated August 2024, on a 24-month routine inspection cycle.
- A fair rating means the lowest-rated major component scores 5 or 6 on FHWA's 0-9 scale: some deterioration or minor section loss, but the structure is sound. It is the middle class, not a warning.
View this bridge on a map → (41.39404, -71.84108)
Component ratings
| Component | Rating (2024) | Rating (2025) | FHWA scale meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck | 6 | 6 | Satisfactory condition |
| Superstructure | 6 | 6 | Satisfactory condition |
| Substructure | 5 | 5 | Fair condition |
Bridge details
| Structure | Continuous steel stringer or multi-beam girder |
| Length | about 200 ft |
| Location | 0.41 miles from Rte 2 |
| NBI structure number | 03822 |
| Condition class | Fair |
| Traffic status (item 41) | Open, no restriction |
| Last inspection (item 90) | August 2024 |
| Inspection interval (item 91) | 24 months |
| Scour (item 113) | 5: foundations stable, scour within the limits of the footing or piles |
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2025 data as reported by the Connecticut department of transportation.
Busiest bridges in New London County
| Bridge | Built | Vehicles/day | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interstate-95 over Latimers Brook | 1958 | 72,700 | Fair |
| Interstate-95 over Lyme Street | 1948 | 69,600 | Fair |
| Interstate-395 over Leffingwell Road | 1958 | 63,200 | Fair |
| Interstate-395 over Trading Cove Brook | 1958 | 63,200 | Fair |
| Interstate-95 over North Bride Brook Road | 1958 | 61,700 | Fair |
| Interstate-95 over Route 161 | 1958 | 59,100 | Poor |
All bridges nearby: New London County, CT bridge conditions · every bridge in New London County · Connecticut bridges.
Background: how bridge ratings work · what "poor" and "structurally deficient" actually mean · how often bridges are inspected.