PORTAL WAY
Carrying PORTAL WAY over I-5
9.0 N JCT SR 539, Whatcom, Washington
Data updated May 2026
FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.
Bridge Snapshot: PORTAL WAY
The PORTAL WAY bridge in Whatcom, Washington carries PORTAL WAY over I-5. It was built in 1961, making it 65 years old today. The structure is built primarily of prestressed concrete. Daily traffic averages 36,168 vehicles, placing it in the heavily-trafficked tier of Washington bridges.
The latest FHWA inspection records show limited component ratings on file. The weakest component sits in unrated condition. None of this bridge's reported major components fall into the Poor condition range.
Sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for refresh cadence and NBI release vintage.
How PORTAL WAY compares
Live comparison across Washington.
Historical Sufficiency Rating
PlainBridge-computedFHWA discontinued this calculated item; it does not determine current condition, funding eligibility, posting, or closure. How the historical reference is calculated.
Condition Ratings
Full 0–9 scale + sufficiency-rating breakdown: how condition ratings work.
Structural Details
- Year Built
- 1961
- Material
- Prestressed Concrete
- Avg Daily Traffic
- 36,168 vehicles/day
- Structure Number
- 0006568A0000000
Location
Data Source
FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI).
FHWA NBI Program ↗How to read this record
This page shows what the last federal inspection recorded, not whether PORTAL WAY is safe to cross today. Here is how to use it.
- NBI condition ratings reflect the latest record in this annual dataset, not a live status. Current routine inspection intervals are risk-based.
- Learn how the 0–9 condition scale and Good/Fair/Poor categories are defined. How condition ratings work
- Compare PORTAL WAY against other structures in Whatcom and across Washington. Washington bridges
- Noticed visible damage or a safety concern? Report it to the agency that owns the bridge, or call 911 in an emergency. How to report a bridge
Condition codes come straight from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory and are not a real-time safety judgment. Only the owning agency, a state DOT, county, or other owner, can post, restrict, or close a bridge.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do the condition ratings mean for PORTAL WAY?
PORTAL WAY in Whatcom, Washington on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.
How often is PORTAL WAY inspected?
PORTAL WAY's responsible agency sets its routine interval under FHWA's risk-based inspection rules; this page does not expose the scheduled interval. It carries about 36,168 vehicles per day.
What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?
FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. PORTAL WAY is currently shown as unrated condition from its component ratings; that category is not a live closure or safety decision.
What is the inventory load rating for PORTAL WAY?
An inventory load rating is not recorded for PORTAL WAY.
Who is responsible for maintaining PORTAL WAY?
Ownership is not specified for PORTAL WAY in the NBI.
How old is PORTAL WAY and does age affect safety?
PORTAL WAY was built in 1961, making it 65 years old.
Disclaimer: Bridge condition data is from the FHWA NBI and reflects the last reported inspection. A Poor condition rating is not a live declaration that a bridge is closed or unsafe for travel. For current closure, posting, or safety information, contact the responsible transportation agency.
Every figure on PlainBridge is rendered directly from federal source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.