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.
Good-condition bridges (184)
OLD BALTIMORE PIKE
GoodOver: TRIB. TO SMALLEYS DAM
S/W OF CHRISITANA, New Castle, DE
Built 1992 Load: 33.0 t ADT: 21,680
US 301
GoodOver: ARMSTRONG CORNER RD
North of Middletown, New Castle, DE
Built 2018 Load: 33.0 t ADT: 5,811
US301
GoodOver: ARMSTRONG CORNER RD
N OF MIDDLETOWN, New Castle, DE
Built 2018 Load: 33.0 t ADT: 5,811
WEDGEWOOD RD
GoodOver: E. BRANCH CHRISTINA CRK
N/W OF NEWARK, New Castle, DE
Built 2014 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 1,125
US301 SB
GoodOver: SUMMIT BRIDGE RD
NORTH OF MIDDLETOWN, New Castle, DE
Built 2018 Load: 33.7 t ADT: 7,301
US 40 /PULASKI HWY
GoodOver: TRIB. TO ARMY CREEK
N/E OF BEAR, New Castle, DE
Built 1999 Load: 33.7 t ADT: 26,146
CHAPMAN RD
GoodOver: I95 NB
E OF NEWARK, New Castle, DE
Built 2022 Load: 33.7 t ADT: 11,941
I 495 SB
GoodOver: I 95 & RAMP 6202
N. OF CLAYMONT, New Castle, DE
Built 1966 Load: 33.7 t ADT: 33,884
SR 1 (NB)
GoodOver: DRAWYER CREEK
NORTH OF ODESSA, New Castle, DE
Built 1999 Load: 33.7 t ADT: 24,315
SR 1 (SB)
GoodOver: DRAWYER CREEK
N. OF ODESSA, New Castle, DE
Built 1999 Load: 33.7 t ADT: 24,315
KIRKWOOD HWY/SR2
GoodOver: CHESTNUT RUN
ELSMERE, New Castle, DE
Built 1939 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 29,701
SR1NB-I95NB RAMP
GoodOver: I95 NB
CHRISTIANA MALL, New Castle, DE
Built 2013 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 21,756
US301
GoodOver: WATERWAY/WILDLIFE X-ING
NORTHEAST OF MIDDLETOWN, New Castle, DE
Built 2018 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 14,602
DUPONT RD / SR100
GoodOver: DELAWARE VALLEY RR
ELSMERE, New Castle, DE
Built 1959 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 8,279
KOREAN VET MEMORIA
GoodOver: US 13
NORTH OF ODESSA, New Castle, DE
Built 1999 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 18,626
SR 1
GoodOver: US 13
NORTH OF ODESSA, New Castle, DE
Built 1999 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 18,625
BASIN RD/SR 141 NB
GoodOver: I 95 & I 295 NB & 6099
NEWPORT, New Castle, DE
Built 2017 Load: 34.3 t ADT: 54,605
BARLEY MILL RD.
GoodOver: RED CLAY CREEK
ASHLAND, New Castle, DE
Built 1850 Load: 35.0 t ADT: 2,776
KOREAN WAR MEM HGY
GoodOver: SR273/HARES CORNER RD
NORTH OF CHRISTIANA, New Castle, DE
Built 1992 Load: 35.0 t ADT: 46,484
US301 SB
GoodOver: SCOTT RUN
SOUTH OF ST. GEORGES, New Castle, DE
Built 2018 Load: 35.0 t ADT: 7,656
HAY RD.
GoodOver: SHELLPOT CREEK
CHERRY ISLAND, New Castle, DE
Built 2018 Load: 35.3 t ADT: 708
US301 NB
GoodOver: SR71/SUMMIT BRIDGE RD
NORTH OF MIDDLETOWN, New Castle, DE
Built 2018 Load: 35.6 t ADT: 7,301
BASIN RD/SR 141 SB
GoodOver: I 95 & I 295 & 6099
NEWPORT, New Castle, DE
Built 2017 Load: 35.6 t ADT: 27,302
BLACKBIRD STA RD
GoodOver: BLACKBIRD CREEK
S.W. OF BLACKBIRD, New Castle, DE
Built 2017 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 843
HYETTS CORNER RD
GoodOver: SCOTT RUN
SOUTHWEST OF ST. GEORGES, New Castle, DE
Built 2019 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 1,010
POWDER MILL/SR141
GoodOver: ROCKLAND ROAD
N/W OF BLUEBALL, New Castle, DE
Built 1997 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 12,703
OLD OGLETOWN RD.
GoodOver: COOL RUN
NORTH OF OGLETOWN, New Castle, DE
Built 1999 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 1,355
MALL ENTRANCE
GoodOver: KOREAN WAR VET MEM HGWY
CHRISTIANA MALL, New Castle, DE
Built 2012 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 9,351
SR1NB-I95NB RAMP
GoodOver: SR7
CHRISTIANA MALL, New Castle, DE
Built 2013 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 28,576
SR299
GoodOver: SR1
WEST OF ODESSA, New Castle, DE
Built 1999 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 15,096
CLAYTON DELANY RD.
GoodOver: PROVIDENCE CREEK
CLAYTON, New Castle, DE
Built 1965 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 943
BEAVER DAM RD.
GoodOver: BEAVER CREEK TRIBUTARY
N/E OF CENTERVILLE, New Castle, DE
Built 1987 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 1,867
I95SB - SR1SB RAMP
GoodOver: STANTON CHRISTIANA RD
WEST OF CHRISTIANA MALL, New Castle, DE
Built 2014 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 29,714
SR1 KOREAN WAR HWY
GoodOver: HARRIS RD.
SOUTH OF ODESSA, New Castle, DE
Built 1999 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 28,060
SILVER LAKE RD.
GoodOver: SILVER LAKE SPILLWAY
S.E. OF MIDDLETOWN, New Castle, DE
Built 1939 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 5,932
US301 NB
GoodOver: N/S RAILROAD
NORTH OF MIDDLETOWN, New Castle, DE
Built 2018 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 7,301
US301 SB
GoodOver: N/S RAILROAD
NORTH OF MIDDLETOWN, New Castle, DE
Built 2018 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 7,656
US301 NB
GoodOver: CONNECTOR RD
NORTH OF MIDDLETOWN, New Castle, DE
Built 2018 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 5,811
US301 SB
GoodOver: CONNECTOR RD
NORTH OF MIDDLETOWN, New Castle, DE
Built 2018 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 5,811
GLEN MOHR DR.
GoodOver: BEAVER BRANCH
E. OF TOWNSEND, New Castle, DE
Built 2008 Load: 37.8 t ADT: 99
US301 NB
GoodOver: TRIB TO SANDY BRANCH
WEST OF MIDDLETOWN, New Castle, DE
Built 2018 Load: 37.9 t ADT: 5,811
SHOPPING CENTER RD
GoodOver: NAAMANS CREEK
NAAMANS AND FOULK RD, New Castle, DE
Built 2000 Load: 38.2 t ADT: 99
SR 48 TO I 95 S
GoodOver: SR 48 EB RD 237 LAN AV
WILMINGTON, New Castle, DE
Built 2020 Load: 38.2 t ADT: 1,624
EAGLE RUN RD
GoodOver: TRIB TO CHRISTINA RIVER
NORTHWEST OF CHRISTIANA, New Castle, DE
Built 2018 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 2,002
NOTINGHAM RD/SR273
GoodOver: CHRISTINA CREEK
NEWARK, New Castle, DE
Built 1991 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 6,877
US301 NB
GoodOver: SCOTT RUN
WEST OF MIDDLETOWN, New Castle, DE
Built 2018 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 7,301
NEW SWEDEN ST
GoodOver: CHRISTINA RIVER
WILMINGTON, New Castle, DE
Built 2019 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 99
I 95 NB TO US 202N
GoodOver: I 95
NORTH OF WILMINGTON, New Castle, DE
Built 2013 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 24,797
PENNSYLVANIA /SR52
GoodOver: WATERWAY & ABANDON R.R.
WEST WILMINGTON, New Castle, DE
Built 1919 Load: 38.8 t ADT: 14,701
STATE PARK ENTRANC
GoodOver: WILSON RUN
BRANDYWINE STATE PARK, New Castle, DE
Built 1980 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 99
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.