Md 5 NB over Zekiah Swamp
Charles County, Maryland · rated Fair in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory
United States Bridge Conditions2025 National Bridge Inventory, FHWACompiled
- Md 5 NB over Zekiah Swamp in Charles County, Maryland, is rated in fair condition in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory (as of ).
- Its lowest-rated component is the deck, rated 6 (satisfactory condition) on the 0-9 scale.
- It was built in 1966, making it 59 years old at the 2025 inventory.
- It carries about 37,490 vehicles a day (traffic count year 2009).
- Its listed owner is the state highway agency.
- It is one of 44 of the 94 inventoried bridges in Charles County rated fair (46.8%); 8 (8.5%) 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 April 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 → (38.5607, -76.85414)
Component ratings
| Component | Rating (2024) | Rating (2025) | FHWA scale meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck | 6 | 6 | Satisfactory condition |
| Superstructure | 6 | 6 | Satisfactory condition |
| Substructure | 6 | 6 | Satisfactory condition |
Bridge details
| Structure | Steel stringer or multi-beam girder |
| Length | about 73 ft |
| Location | 0.44 Mile South of Md 488 |
| NBI structure number | 100000080002011 |
| Condition class | Fair |
| Traffic status (item 41) | Open, no restriction |
| Last inspection (item 90) | April 2024 |
| Inspection interval (item 91) | 24 months |
| Scour (item 113) | 8: foundations stable, scour above the top of the footing |
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2025 data as reported by the Maryland department of transportation.
Busiest bridges in Charles County
| Bridge | Built | Vehicles/day | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Md 5 SB over Zekiah Swamp | 1931 | 41,209 | Fair |
| Md 228 over Piney Branch | 1957 | 39,800 | Fair |
| Md 228 EB over Mattawoman Creek | 1995 | 39,800 | Good |
| Md 228 WB over Mattawoman Creek | 1995 | 39,800 | Good |
| Md 5 Nbr over Trib to Jordan Swamp | 1964 | 38,312 | Good |
| Md 5 SB over Zekiah Swamp | 1932 | 37,490 | Fair |
All bridges nearby: Charles County, MD bridge conditions · every bridge in Charles County · Maryland bridges.
Background: how bridge ratings work · what "poor" and "structurally deficient" actually mean · how often bridges are inspected.