Total bridges
177
Public highway bridges in Washington County
County profile · official public datasets
Washington County, AL
177 public highway bridges tracked in the FHWA National Bridge Inventory: 32.8% rated Good, 56.5% Fair, 10.7% Poor.
- 177
- Public bridges
- 32.8%
- Good condition
- 10.7%
- Poor condition
The verdict
According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory.
Washington County pairs a higher-than-median Poor-condition share among rated counties in the state with a newer average build year than the state inventory.
- 65th
- of 67 on Poor share
- 10.7%
- Poor-condition share
- 177
- public highway bridges
- 1981
- avg year built
Poor is an FHWA condition category from the lowest applicable component rating (4 or below), not a live crossing-safety or closure decision. Rankings cover counties with at least five public highway bridges.
Washington County Bridge Snapshot
According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory, Washington County ranks #65 of 67 Alabama counties with at least 5 public highway bridges on Poor-condition share (lower share ranks better; currently 10.7%). Washington County, Alabama contains 177 public highway bridges. Roughly 32.8% are rated “Good,” 56.5% “Fair,” and 10.7% “Poor.” Poor means the lowest applicable deck, superstructure, substructure, or culvert rating is 4 or below on the 0–9 NBI scale. It is a condition category, not a live safety or closure decision.
Responsible agencies inspect covered bridges on risk-based intervals under current NBIS rules and submit inventory data to FHWA annually. The list below shows every NBI-tracked bridge in the county. Use the “Sort by” controls to change the ordering, and click any row for its reported inspection date, traffic count, and condition fields.
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See methodology for full definitions.
Good condition
32.8%
58 of 177 rated 7-9
Fair condition
56.5%
100 of 177 rated 5-6
Poor condition
10.7%
19 of 177 rated 4 or below
In-state Poor-share rank
#65 of 67
Among Alabama counties with 5+ bridges, lower share ranks better
Condition distribution
Share of 177 NBI-tracked bridges by lowest applicable component rating.
Good 32.8% (58)
Fair 56.5% (100)
Poor 10.7% (19)
Washington County's Poor-condition bridges carry 1,615 vehicle crossings a day
That is 0.6% of the county's reported daily bridge traffic on 10.7% of its bridges: Poor-condition structures carry less traffic than their share of the inventory. Each Poor bridge averages 85 crossings a day against 1,451 for a Good-condition one. A Poor rating is a condition category, not a closure or a live safety judgement; it means the lowest applicable component rating is 4 or below.
Computed over the 177 of 177 bridges in this county that report an average daily traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
36.7% of Washington County's bridges have passed the 50-year mark
65 of the 177 bridges with a recorded construction year were built in 1974 or earlier. Age alone is not a defect: a well-maintained older bridge can rate Good, and 32.8% of this county's inventory does. Even so, this older cohort is the population from which future Poor ratings are drawn, which is why the age profile below matters alongside the condition split above.
Cutoff derives from the 2024 release year minus a 50-year design life. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
One structure carries 15.5% of the county's Poor-condition bridge traffic
LUKE RIVERS RD over BILBO CREEK, built 1984, carries 250 vehicles a day, the most of any Poor-rated structure here. The county's Poor-condition exposure is concentrated rather than evenly spread, so the 19-bridge count understates how much of the daily burden sits on a single crossing.
Share is of the 1,615 daily crossings on Poor-rated bridges that report a traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
When Washington County's bridges were built
177 bridges with a recorded construction year, grouped by decade
- 1920s 7
1920–1929
7 bridges
- 1930s 4
1930–1939
4 bridges
- 1940s 7
1940–1949
7 bridges
- 1950s
1950–1959
17 bridges
- 1960s
1960–1969
21 bridges
- 1970s
1970–1979
20 bridges
- 1980s
1980–1989
33 bridges
- 1990s
1990–1999
21 bridges
- 2000s
2000–2009
29 bridges
- 2010s
2010–2019
18 bridges
What this shows Construction peaked in the 1980s, when 33 of the county's bridges still in the inventory were built, which is 18.6% of those with a recorded year. That cohort is now 35 to 44 years old in the 2024 inventory. Its average build year is 1981, 7 years newer than the Alabama average of 1974.
How Washington County compares with Alabama's closest counties by inventory size
The 5 Alabama counties nearest Washington County in number of bridges, with their condition splits. Its 10.7% Poor share is the 6th-lowest of these 6. Its average build year of 1981 against a peer-group mean of 1970 is 11 years newer.
Showing the 5 closest of 66 Alabama counties eligible for comparison.
| County | Bridges | Good | Fair | Poor | Avg. built |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lamar County | 181 | 26% | 71.8% | 2.2% | 1966 |
| Blount County | 180 | 12.8% | 79.4% | 7.8% | 1968 |
| Hale County | 177 | 49.2% | 45.8% | 5.1% | 1972 |
| Macon County | 177 | 24.9% | 64.4% | 10.7% | 1973 |
| Washington County (this page) | 177 | 32.8% | 56.5% | 10.7% | 1981 |
| Colbert County | 172 | 31.4% | 66.9% | 1.7% | 1972 |
Each share is of that county's own total tracked bridges; peers are the counties with 5 or more bridges whose inventory size is closest to Washington County's. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
Nationwide counties with similar inventory size or average build year
Two NBI-derived peer sets for Washington County, both outside Alabama so the neighborhoods are not the same-state size table above.
Similar inventory size
Nearest county inventories outside AL (177 bridges here).
- Seminole County, FL · 177 bridges
- Dodge County, MN · 177 bridges
- Pierce County, NE · 177 bridges
- Marion County, TN · 177 bridges
Similar average build year
Nearest mean year-built outside AL (1981 here).
- Franklin County, OH · avg 1981 · 922 bridges
- Greenville County, SC · avg 1981 · 635 bridges
- Montgomery County, OH · avg 1981 · 632 bridges
- McLean County, IL · avg 1981 · 624 bridges
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release. Peers floor at 10 bridges so stub inventories cannot own the match.
All bridges (177)
CR 36
FairOver: FLAT BRANCH
3/4 MI E MISS LINE, Washington, AL
Built 1956 Load: 31.5 t ADT: 475
CARPENTER RD
FairOver: PINE BARREN CREEK
3.2 MILES FROM HWY 17, Washington, AL
Built 1993 Load: 32.2 t ADT: 150
CARPENTER RD
FairOver: PINE BARREN CREEK
5.2 MILES FROM HWY 17, Washington, AL
Built 1993 Load: 32.2 t ADT: 150
CR-20
FairOver: Escatawpa River
Escatawpa, Washington, AL
Built 2017 Load: 32.3 t ADT: 170
SR 17
FairOver: BRANCH
2.3 MI. N. OF FREIBURG, Washington, AL
Built 1940 Load: 32.5 t ADT: 4,750
COUNTY ROAD 19
FairOver: BILBO CREEK
.5 MI. NORTH OF TOPTON, Washington, AL
Built 2003 Load: 33.0 t ADT: 685
SR 56
FairOver: BRANCH
1.4 MI. W.OF WAGARVILLE, Washington, AL
Built 1929 Load: 33.6 t ADT: 2,520
US 43
FairOver: PAUL BAYOU CREEK
.4 MI. N.OF CALVERT, Washington, AL
Built 1979 Load: 33.6 t ADT: 6,180
US 43
FairOver: BATES CREEK
3.4 MI.N.OF CALVERT, Washington, AL
Built 1979 Load: 33.6 t ADT: 4,785
US 43
FairOver: BILBO CREEK
1.5 MI.S.OF MCINTOSH, Washington, AL
Built 1979 Load: 33.6 t ADT: 5,020
US 43
FairOver: LITTLE PAUL BAYOU
2.3 MILES N. OF CALVERT, Washington, AL
Built 2000 Load: 33.6 t ADT: 4,785
CO RD 34
FairOver: MILL CREEK
HEALING SPRINGS, Washington, AL
Built 1947 Load: 35.4 t ADT: 500
SR 17
FairOver: DUNBAR CREEK
1.8 MI. N. OF MILLRY, Washington, AL
Built 1970 Load: 35.6 t ADT: 1,770
SR 17
FairOver: COPE CREEK
2.6 MI. N.OF MILLRY, Washington, AL
Built 1970 Load: 35.6 t ADT: 1,770
CO RD 34
FairOver: BRIER CREEK
2.42 KM E OF MILLRY, Washington, AL
Built 1995 Load: 35.7 t ADT: 1,276
SR 56
FairOver: ESCATAWPA RIVER
2.8 MI. E. OF MISS.ST.LN., Washington, AL
Built 1950 Load: 36.2 t ADT: 1,280
MAGNOLIA ST
FairOver: YELLOWHOUSE BRANCH
DEER PARK, Washington, AL
Built 1991 Load: 36.8 t ADT: 50
SR 17
FairOver: BRANCH
4.5 MI.S. OF TIBBIE, Washington, AL
Built 1939 Load: 37.1 t ADT: 1,240
County Road 1
FairOver: Miles Creek
1.3 m. South of AL56, Washington, AL
Built 2015 Load: 37.1 t ADT: 281
CO RD 11
FairOver: COSBY CREEK
MILLRY ON COPELAND ROAD, Washington, AL
Built 1982 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 350
SR 17
FairOver: BRANCH
1.7 MI. S.OF MILLRY, Washington, AL
Built 1929 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 1,900
SR 17
FairOver: BRANCH
1.6 MI.S. OF MILLRY, Washington, AL
Built 1929 Load: 39.2 t ADT: 1,900
US 43
FairOver: LITTLE PAUL BAYOU
1.8 MI.N.OF CALVERT, Washington, AL
Built 1979 Load: 40.1 t ADT: 12,360
CR-20
FairOver: ESCATAWPA RIVER RELIEF
ESCATAWPA, Washington, AL
Built 2017 Load: 40.6 t ADT: 170
US 43
FairOver: GAINES CREEK
2.0 MI. S. OF LEROY, Washington, AL
Built 1987 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 8,240
POWELL CUT OFF RD
FairOver: UT BASSETT CREEK
LEROY, Washington, AL
Built 1965 Load: 40.9 t ADT: 100
CARPENTER RD
FairOver: PINE BARREN CR
3 MI N.E. HWY 17, Washington, AL
Built 1985 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 150
US 43
FairOver: ARMSTRONG CREEK
1 MI. S. OF WAGARVILLE, Washington, AL
Built 2001 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 3,950
SAM WOOD ROAD
FairOver: DUNBAR CREEK
4 MI NO MILLRY, Washington, AL
Built 1961 Load: 42.7 t ADT: 150
SR 17
FairOver: BRANCH
3.4 MI. N. OF CHATOM, Washington, AL
Built 1929 Load: 42.9 t ADT: 1,810
COWHILL ROAD (DT)
FairOver: TRIB ESCATAWPA RIVER
COPELAND, Washington, AL
Built 1990 Load: 43.3 t ADT: 50
ABB RICHARDSON RD
FairOver: ARMSTRONG CREEK
HOWARDTOWN, Washington, AL
Built 1991 Load: 43.3 t ADT: 250
COUNTY ROAD 1
FairOver: BRUSHY CREEK
0.2 MILES WEST US 45, Washington, AL
Built 1997 Load: 43.3 t ADT: 275
CR 8
FairOver: POND CREEK
WALLEY BEND, Washington, AL
Built 2012 Load: 44.5 t ADT: 160
COUNTY ROAD 28
FairOver: BASSETTS CREEK
2MI NORTH HWY 56 HOBSON, Washington, AL
Built 2003 Load: 45.2 t ADT: 559
CO RD 25
FairOver: TIGER BRANCH
SEABOARD, Washington, AL
Built 1984 Load: 46.6 t ADT: 150
US 43
FairOver: GRAVES CREEK
3.6 MI. S.OF WAGARVILLE, Washington, AL
Built 1991 Load: 46.7 t ADT: 8,520
US 43
FairOver: PAUL BAYOU RELIEF
0.6 MI. NORTH OF CALVERT, Washington, AL
Built 2002 Load: 47.4 t ADT: 6,180
US 43
FairOver: PAUL BAYOU CREEK
0.4 MI. NORTH OF CALVERT, Washington, AL
Built 2002 Load: 47.4 t ADT: 6,180
US 43
FairOver: BASSETTS CREEK
1.7 MI. N. OF WAGARVILLE, Washington, AL
Built 2002 Load: 47.8 t ADT: 4,120
SR 17
FairOver: BRANCH
2.2 MI. N. OF MILLRY, Washington, AL
Built 1932 Load: 49.6 t ADT: 1,770
US 43
FairOver: BILBO CREEK
1.5 MI. S. OF MCINTOSH, Washington, AL
Built 2002 Load: 49.6 t ADT: 5,020
SR 17
FairOver: BIG BRANCH
3.9 MI. N.OF MILLRY, Washington, AL
Built 1929 Load: 52.1 t ADT: 1,690
SR 56
FairOver: BRANCH
6.1 MI. E. OF CHATOM, Washington, AL
Built 1929 Load: 52.3 t ADT: 1,930
SR 56
FairOver: CREEK
4.4 MI. E. OF MISS.ST.LN, Washington, AL
Built 1950 Load: 55.2 t ADT: 1,010
US 43
FairOver: BRANCH
2.0 MI. N. OF WAGARVILLE, Washington, AL
Built 1940 Load: 61.9 t ADT: 8,240
CO RD NO 16
FairOver: BOGGY BRANCH
REEDS CHAPEL, Washington, AL
Built 1962 Load: 62.7 t ADT: 1,055
SR 17
FairOver: BRIER CREEK
3.6 MI. N.OF MILLRY, Washington, AL
Built 1970 Load: 81.9 t ADT: 1,690
SR 56
FairOver: BRANCH
1.7 MI. W. OF WAGARVILLE, Washington, AL
Built 1929 Load: 84.5 t ADT: 2,520
CO RD 28
FairOver: TRIB BASSETS CREEK
0.25MI S CR 12 INT, Washington, AL
Built 1955 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 559
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Related
Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainBridges
Every figure on PlainBridges 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. NBI condition categories reflect the latest reported inventory record, not a live safety, closure, or travel decision.