440 X

over Kill Van Kull

NJ 440, Hudson County, New Jersey

Condition

Good

Year Built

1931

Daily Traffic

9,521

Length

185 ft

About This Bridge

440 X carries traffic over Kill Van Kull in Hudson County, New Jersey. Built in 1931, this structure is 95 years old, making it a historic structure that has served the community for generations. The bridge features steel construction with a arch - thru design, a combination chosen by engineers to meet the specific requirements of this crossing.

Approximately 9,521 vehicles cross this bridge daily, indicating lower traffic volumes common for local roads and rural routes. While traffic is lighter, these bridges still serve essential community transportation needs. Commercial trucks account for 11% of all crossings. This proportion of commercial traffic is typical for this roadway classification and is factored into the bridge's design load ratings.

The bridge is currently rated in good condition based on federal inspection criteria established by the Federal Highway Administration. The structure meets current safety standards for its designated use and load capacity. With a total length of 185 feet, this structure falls within the typical range requiring standard inspection procedures conducted by certified bridge inspectors.

Steel bridges provide high strength-to-weight ratios, making them suitable for longer spans. However, they require ongoing protection against corrosion through painting or weathering steel designs. Inspectors pay close attention to connection points, fatigue cracking, and coating condition.

Federal law requires that all highway bridges be inspected at least every 24 months by qualified inspectors following the National Bridge Inspection Standards (NBIS). Some bridges with known issues or unusual characteristics may be inspected more frequently. Inspection data is reported to the National Bridge Inventory, a database maintained by the Federal Highway Administration that tracks the condition of all public highway bridges in the United States. This bridge data is sourced from that federal database and reflects the most recent available inspection results.

Condition Ratings

9

Deck Condition

Excellent

7

Superstructure

Good

7

Substructure

Good

7

Channel & Protection

Good

7

Lowest Rating

Determines condition category

NBI condition ratings range from 0 (failed) to 9 (excellent). Ratings of 4 or below are considered poor. The overall condition category is determined by the lowest individual component rating.

With a lowest rating of 7, this bridge demonstrates good condition meeting all safety standards.

For a structure built in 1931, maintaining good condition demonstrates effective maintenance practices. If this bridge were closed, traffic would face a detour of approximately 16 miles, underscoring the importance of maintaining this crossing.

Bridge Details

Steel is the primary structural material, which influences maintenance requirements and expected lifespan. The arch - thru design was selected based on span requirements, load capacity needs, and site conditions at the time of construction. Maintenance responsibility falls to Local Toll Authority.

Construction

Year Built1931
Year Reconstructed2017
MaterialSteel
Design TypeArch - Thru
OwnerLocal Toll Authority

Dimensions

Total Length185 ft (56.5 m)
Max Span170 ft (51.9 m)
Deck Width8 ft
Deck Area13,393 sq ft

Span dimensions affect structural design choices and load distribution. The deck area of 13,393 sq ft determines surface maintenance scope.

Classification

Route TypeState Highway
Route Number44
Lanes On Bridge4
Lanes Under Bridge

Status

Toll BridgeYes
Historical SignificanceNot determined
Scour CriticalNo
Detour Length16 mi (26 km)

Traffic Data

Traffic volume data helps engineers assess bridge wear patterns and plan maintenance schedules. Average Daily Traffic (ADT) counts are updated periodically and represent typical weekday usage.

9,521

Avg Daily Traffic (2023)

Vehicles per day crossing this bridge

11%

Truck Traffic

Commercial vehicle percentage

11,132

Projected Future ADT

Estimated future demand

This bridge carries approximately 9,521 vehicles per day, translating to roughly 3,475,165 crossings annually. Lower traffic volumes generally result in less structural wear over time.

Commercial trucks comprise 11% of traffic. Heavy vehicles cause disproportionate wear—a single fully loaded truck can have the impact of thousands of passenger cars on bridge deck surfaces.

Traffic projections estimate future volumes of 11,132 vehicles daily, a 17% increase from current levels. These projections inform capacity planning and potential upgrade requirements.

Load Ratings

Load ratings determine what weight this bridge can safely support. These values are critical for routing heavy vehicles and issuing overweight permits.

Operating Rating

4.7 tons

Maximum allowable load for special permits

Inventory Rating

3.6 tons

Load level for normal traffic

The operating rating of 4.7 tons represents the absolute maximum load this bridge can carry under controlled conditions with special permits. The inventory rating of 3.6 tons is the safe load limit for everyday traffic without restrictions. These relatively low ratings may result in posted weight limits or route restrictions for heavy vehicles.

5-Year Condition Trend

Declining

Condition has declined by 1.0 rating points since 2020

Data: 2020-2024 FHWA National Bridge Inventory

Location

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41.250000, -75.111944

Identification

Structure Number3823040
NBI IDNJ-3823040
State FIPS34
County FIPS017

Explore More

Data Source: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) National Bridge Inventory 2024

Bridge inspection data is typically updated every 24 months. Conditions may have changed since the last inspection.

“Structurally deficient” does not mean a bridge is unsafe or likely to collapse. It indicates that one or more key structural elements are in poor or worse condition. Bridges are inspected regularly and may have load restrictions in place.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used for route clearance or vehicle weight decisions.

440 X over Kill Van Kull, New Jersey — Bridge Condition | BridgeReport.org | BridgeReport.org