Total bridges
527
Public highway bridges in New Castle County
County profile · official public datasets
New Castle County, DE
527 public highway bridges tracked in the FHWA National Bridge Inventory: 34.9% rated Good, 64.1% Fair, 0.9% Poor.
- 527
- Public bridges
- 34.9%
- Good condition
- 0.9%
- Poor condition
The verdict
According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory.
New Castle County posts a better-than-median Poor-condition share among rated counties in the state across large county bridge inventory.
- Top 33%
- lowest Poor share in state
- 0.9%
- Poor-condition share
- 527
- public highway bridges
- 1976
- 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.
New Castle County Bridge Snapshot
According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory, New Castle County ranks #1 of 3 Delaware counties with at least 5 public highway bridges on Poor-condition share (lower share ranks better; currently 0.9%). New Castle County, Delaware contains 527 public highway bridges. Roughly 34.9% are rated “Good,” 64.1% “Fair,” and 0.9% “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
34.9%
184 of 527 rated 7-9
Fair condition
64.1%
338 of 527 rated 5-6
Poor condition
0.9%
5 of 527 rated 4 or below
In-state Poor-share rank
#1 of 3
Among Delaware counties with 5+ bridges, lower share ranks better
Condition distribution
Share of 527 NBI-tracked bridges by lowest applicable component rating.
Good 34.9% (184)
Fair 64.1% (338)
Poor 0.9% (5)
New Castle County's Poor-condition bridges carry 16,646 vehicle crossings a day
That is 0.2% of the county's reported daily bridge traffic on 0.9% of its bridges: Poor-condition structures carry less traffic than their share of the inventory. Each Poor bridge averages 3,329 crossings a day against 13,982 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 527 of 527 bridges in this county that report an average daily traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
46.1% of New Castle County's bridges have passed the 50-year mark
243 of the 527 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 34.9% 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 63.8% of the county's Poor-condition bridge traffic
DUPONT PKW/US13 SB over BLACKBIRD CREEK, built 1920, carries 10,619 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 5-bridge count understates how much of the daily burden sits on a single crossing.
Share is of the 16,646 daily crossings on Poor-rated bridges that report a traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
When New Castle County's bridges were built
527 bridges with a recorded construction year, grouped by decade
- pre-1900 3
Built before 1900
3 bridges
- 1900s 6
1900–1909
6 bridges
- 1910s 7
1910–1919
7 bridges
- 1920s 21
1920–1929
21 bridges
- 1930s 25
1930–1939
25 bridges
- 1940s 10
1940–1949
10 bridges
- 1950s 31
1950–1959
31 bridges
- 1960s
1960–1969
103 bridges
- 1970s
1970–1979
88 bridges
- 1980s
1980–1989
42 bridges
- 1990s
1990–1999
91 bridges
- 2000s 28
2000–2009
28 bridges
- 2010s
2010–2019
60 bridges
- 2020s 12
2020–2029
12 bridges
What this shows Construction peaked in the 1960s, when 103 of the county's bridges still in the inventory were built, which is 19.5% of those with a recorded year. That cohort is now 55 to 64 years old in the 2024 inventory. Its average build year (1976) matches the Delaware average (1977).
How New Castle County compares with Delaware's closest counties by inventory size
The 2 Delaware counties nearest New Castle County in number of bridges, with their condition splits. Its 0.9% Poor share is the 1st-lowest of these 3. Its average build year of 1976 against a peer-group mean of 1979 is in line with the group.
| County | Bridges | Good | Fair | Poor | Avg. built |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Castle County (this page) | 527 | 34.9% | 64.1% | 0.9% | 1976 |
| Kent County | 192 | 55.7% | 42.7% | 1.6% | 1983 |
| Sussex County | 153 | 40.5% | 57.5% | 2% | 1974 |
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 New Castle 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 New Castle County, both outside Delaware so the neighborhoods are not the same-state size table above.
Similar inventory size
Nearest county inventories outside DE (527 bridges here).
- Merced County, CA · 528 bridges
- LaSalle County, IL · 528 bridges
- Nueces County, TX · 528 bridges
- Marathon County, WI · 530 bridges
Similar average build year
Nearest mean year-built outside DE (1976 here).
- Marion County, IN · avg 1976 · 958 bridges
- Mohave County, AZ · avg 1976 · 641 bridges
- Comanche County, OK · avg 1976 · 593 bridges
- Prince George's County, MD · avg 1976 · 576 bridges
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release. Peers floor at 10 bridges so stub inventories cannot own the match.
Fair-condition bridges (338)
FOURTH STREET
FairOver: CHRISTINA RIVER
WILMINGTON, New Castle, DE
Built 1980 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 9,973
CAPITAL TRAIL/SR2
FairOver: MUDDY RUN
EAST OF NEWARK, New Castle, DE
Built 1948 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 24,998
S. WALNUT ST.
FairOver: CHRISTINA RIVER
WILMINGTON, New Castle, DE
Built 1957 Load: 18.5 t ADT: 14,363
I 295 N & US 40 E
FairOver: DELAWARE RIVER
NEW CASTLE, New Castle, DE
Built 1951 Load: 18.8 t ADT: 48,349
RISING SUN LANE
FairOver: BRANDYWINE CREEK
N/W WILMINGTON, New Castle, DE
Built 1928 Load: 19.8 t ADT: 2,265
SOUTH HEALD ST
FairOver: NORFOLK SOUTHERN
SOUTH WILMINGTON, New Castle, DE
Built 1942 Load: 19.8 t ADT: 8,515
PAPER MILL RD
FairOver: WHITE CLAY CREEK
NORTH NEWARK, New Castle, DE
Built 1947 Load: 20.1 t ADT: 16,955
S. WALNUT ST/US13
FairOver: NORFOLK SOUTHERN
SOUTH OF WILMINGTON, New Castle, DE
Built 1938 Load: 20.1 t ADT: 27,266
SR7 & SR4
FairOver: WHITE CLAY CREEK
STANTON, New Castle, DE
Built 1981 Load: 20.4 t ADT: 26,432
FOURTH ST
FairOver: CSX RAILROAD
WILMINGTON, New Castle, DE
Built 1900 Load: 20.4 t ADT: 99
I 95 RD 59
FairOver: BRANDYWINE CK
WILMINGTON, New Castle, DE
Built 1964 Load: 20.4 t ADT: 65,124
I 495
FairOver: CHRISTINA RIVER N/S RR
WILMINGTON, New Castle, DE
Built 1974 Load: 20.4 t ADT: 92,029
KIRKWOOD HWY/SR2
FairOver: LITTLE MILL CREEK
ELSMERE, New Castle, DE
Built 1939 Load: 20.7 t ADT: 29,701
ROCKLAND RD
FairOver: BRANDYWINE CREEK
ROCKLAND, New Castle, DE
Built 1933 Load: 21.1 t ADT: 3,561
SR141/BARLEY MILL
FairOver: BRANDYWINE CREEK RD 260
N/W WILMINGTON-GREENVILLE, New Castle, DE
Built 1951 Load: 21.1 t ADT: 24,974
DEL 896 US71 301S
FairOver: C&D CANAL
9 MI W OF REEDY POINT, New Castle, DE
Built 1959 Load: 21.1 t ADT: 26,840
DELAWARE RT. 9
FairOver: C&D CANAL
1/2 MI S OF DEL. CITY, New Castle, DE
Built 1969 Load: 21.1 t ADT: 1,203
HIGHLAND AVE
FairOver: SR 141
NEWPORT, New Castle, DE
Built 1976 Load: 21.4 t ADT: 99
SALEM CHURCH RD
FairOver: BECKS POND/BELLTOWN RUN
S/E OF NEWARK, New Castle, DE
Built 1979 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 6,297
OLD BALTIMORE PIKE
FairOver: TRIB. TO CHRISTINA CREEK
S. OF NEWARK, New Castle, DE
Built 2000 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 13,109
I 95
FairOver: CITY STREETS & AMTRAK
SOUTH OF WILMINGTON, New Castle, DE
Built 1964 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 63,420
AUGUSTINE CUTOFF
FairOver: BRANDYWINE CREEK
WILMINGTON, New Castle, DE
Built 1900 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 9,627
I 295 S & US 40 W
FairOver: DELAWARE RIVER
NEW CASTLE, New Castle, DE
Built 1968 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 50,098
OLD CAPITAL TRAIL
FairOver: RED CLAY CREEK
MARSHALLTON, New Castle, DE
Built 1931 Load: 23.0 t ADT: 10,072
LIBRARY AVE/SR 72
FairOver: AMTRAK
NEWARK, New Castle, DE
Built 1979 Load: 23.0 t ADT: 29,899
I 495 SB
FairOver: I 95 NB
CHRISTIANA INTERCHANGE, New Castle, DE
Built 1965 Load: 23.0 t ADT: 26,041
BURNSIDE BLVD
FairOver: SR 141
NORTH OF NEWPORT, New Castle, DE
Built 1976 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 100
JFK MEM HGY/I95 SB
FairOver: TALLEY ROAD
N.E. OF WILMINGTON, New Castle, DE
Built 1968 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 23,320
CREEK RD/SR82
FairOver: RED CLAY CREEK
ASHLAND, New Castle, DE
Built 1939 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 2,428
SOUTH MARKET ST
FairOver: CHRISTINA RIVER
WILMINGTON, New Castle, DE
Built 1927 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 28,725
SR 273
FairOver: SR 4
OGLETOWN, New Castle, DE
Built 1997 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 24,266
SOUTH LINCOLN ST
FairOver: CANBY PARK VIADUCT
WILMINGTON, New Castle, DE
Built 1963 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 20,027
BASIN RD/SR 141
FairOver: RD 333 CENTERVILLE RD
S/W OF ELSMERE, New Castle, DE
Built 1974 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 50,659
RED MILL RD
FairOver: AMTRAK
EAST OF NEWARK, New Castle, DE
Built 1978 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 14,697
CHURCH RD.
FairOver: CHRISTINA CREEK
N/W NEWARK, New Castle, DE
Built 1968 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 446
BEAR CORBITT RD
FairOver: RED LION CREEK
N/W OF DELAWARE CITY, New Castle, DE
Built 1927 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 5,066
BARLEY MILL RD
FairOver: RED CLAY CREEK
MT. CUBA, New Castle, DE
Built 1949 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 951
NEW ROAD
FairOver: WATERWAY
ELSMERE, New Castle, DE
Built 1917 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 674
DUPONT RD
FairOver: CSX RAILROAD
ELSMERE, New Castle, DE
Built 1980 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 11,138
SUNSET LAKE RD
FairOver: CHRISTINA CREEK
S. OF NEWARK, New Castle, DE
Built 1969 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 14,546
KIRKWOOD HGWY/SR2
FairOver: CSX SILVER RUN
ELSMERE, New Castle, DE
Built 1949 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 26,585
I 495 NB
FairOver: US 13
SOUTH OF WILMINGTON, New Castle, DE
Built 1975 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 38,775
SR273
FairOver: SR4
OGLETOWN, New Castle, DE
Built 1988 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 24,266
EAST PARK DRIVE
FairOver: GOLF CART & BIKE/PED WAY
N. OF WILMINGTON, New Castle, DE
Built 2007 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 3,469
ROGERS RD
FairOver: I 495
EAST OF WILMINGTON, New Castle, DE
Built 1975 Load: 25.8 t ADT: 8,824
WILSON ROAD
FairOver: SHELLPOT CREEK
NORTH OF WILMINGTON, New Castle, DE
Built 1954 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 5,698
HARVEY ROAD
FairOver: CSX RAILROAD
SOUTH OF ARDEN, New Castle, DE
Built 1953 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 11,999
NEWPORT RD.
FairOver: RED CLAY CREEK
MARSHALLTON, New Castle, DE
Built 1954 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 3,401
WEDGEWOOD RD
FairOver: CHRISTINA CREEK
WEST OF NEWARK, New Castle, DE
Built 1969 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 1,125
SR 1
FairOver: SR 71
TYBOUTS CORNER, New Castle, DE
Built 1990 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 42,970
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.