Clothespin Br Road over Blackwater River
Merrimack County, New Hampshire · rated Poor in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory
United States Bridge Conditions2025 National Bridge Inventory, FHWACompiled
- Clothespin Br Road over Blackwater River in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, is rated in poor condition in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory (as of ).
- Its lowest-rated component is the deck, rated 2 (critical condition) on the 0-9 scale.
- It was built in 1954, making it 71 years old at the 2025 inventory.
- It carries about 457 vehicles a day (traffic count year 2023).
- Its listed owner is a city or municipal highway agency.
- It is one of 27 of the 326 inventoried bridges in Merrimack County rated poor (8.3%); 27 (8.3%) 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 November 2024, on a 16-month routine inspection cycle.
- A poor rating means at least one major component - deck, superstructure, or substructure - is rated 4 or lower on FHWA's 0-9 scale. It does not by itself mean the bridge is unsafe; bridges judged unsafe are closed or load-restricted by their owners.
View this bridge on a map → (43.3017, -71.69843)
Component ratings
| Component | Rating (2024) | Rating (2025) | FHWA scale meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck | 2 | 2 | Critical condition |
| Superstructure | 5 | 5 | Fair condition |
| Substructure | 4 | 4 | Poor condition |
Bridge details
| Structure | Steel stringer or multi-beam girder |
| Length | about 73 ft |
| Location | 0.88MI NH127 |
| NBI structure number | 026801210010300 |
| Condition class | Poor |
| Traffic status (item 41) | Open, no restriction |
| Last inspection (item 90) | November 2024 |
| Inspection interval (item 91) | 16 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 New Hampshire department of transportation.
Busiest bridges in Merrimack County
| Bridge | Built | Vehicles/day | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| I-93 Fee Tpk Ramp over Hackett Hill Road | 1978 | 86,013 | Fair |
| I-93 Fee Tpk over Cross Road | 1956 | 82,029 | Fair |
| I-93 Fee Tpk over Ramp A-b | 1957 | 79,640 | Fair |
| I-93 Fee Tpk over Dow Road | 1957 | 78,501 | Fair |
| I-93 Fee Tpk over Robinson Road | 1957 | 78,501 | Fair |
| I-93 Fee Tpk over US 3 Manchester Street | 2000 | 75,054 | Good |
All bridges nearby: Merrimack County, NH bridge conditions · every bridge in Merrimack County · New Hampshire bridges.
Background: how bridge ratings work · what "poor" and "structurally deficient" actually mean · how often bridges are inspected.