Ri 138 over East Passage Narr Bay
Newport County, Rhode Island · rated Fair in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory
United States Bridge Conditions2025 National Bridge Inventory, FHWACompiled
- Ri 138 over East Passage Narr Bay in Newport County, Rhode Island, is rated in fair condition in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory (as of ).
- Its lowest-rated component is the deck, rated 5 (fair condition) on the 0-9 scale.
- It was built in 1969, making it 56 years old at the 2025 inventory.
- It carries about 28,000 vehicles a day (traffic count year 2016).
- It is one of 25 of the 37 inventoried bridges in Newport County rated fair (67.6%); 4 (10.8%) are rated poor.
- Its traffic status in the 2025 inventory is posted for another load-capacity restriction (speed, number of vehicles on the bridge, etc.) (NBI item 41).
- Its condition class and component ratings are unchanged from the 2024 inventory.
- Its most recent inspection on record is dated October 2024, on a 24-month routine inspection cycle.
- It has fracture-critical members (NBI item 92A): steel tension members without a redundant load path, which get their own scheduled inspections.
- 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 → (41.50368, -71.34289)
Component ratings
| Component | Rating (2024) | Rating (2025) | FHWA scale meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck | 5 | 5 | Fair condition |
| Superstructure | 5 | 5 | Fair condition |
| Substructure | 6 | 6 | Satisfactory condition |
Bridge details
| Structure | Steel suspension |
| Length | about 11,248 ft |
| Location | Betwn Jamestown Newport |
| NBI structure number | 000000000009000 |
| Condition class | Fair |
| Traffic status (item 41) | Posted for another load-capacity restriction (speed, number of vehicles on the bridge, etc.) |
| Last inspection (item 90) | October 2024 |
| Inspection interval (item 91) | 24 months |
| Scour (item 113) | 5: foundations stable, scour within the limits of the footing or piles |
| Fracture critical (item 92A) | Yes |
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2025 data as reported by the Rhode Island department of transportation.
Busiest bridges in Newport County
| Bridge | Built | Vehicles/day | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ri 24 & Ri 138 over Sakonnet River | 2012 | 40,000 | Good |
| Ri 138 over West Passage Narra Bay | 1992 | 33,100 | Fair |
| Ri 24 - W App 250 over Hummocks Av | 1956 | 32,400 | Fair |
| Ri 138 over Third St | 1969 | 28,743 | Fair |
| Ri 138 over Newport Sec RR | 1969 | 26,700 | Fair |
| Ri 138 over Ri 238 Jt Connell Hwy | 1969 | 26,700 | Fair |
All bridges nearby: Newport County, RI bridge conditions · every bridge in Newport County · Rhode Island bridges.
Background: how bridge ratings work · what "poor" and "structurally deficient" actually mean · how often bridges are inspected.