Total bridges
153
Public highway bridges in Sussex County
County profile · official public datasets
Sussex County, DE
153 public highway bridges tracked in the FHWA National Bridge Inventory: 40.5% rated Good, 57.5% Fair, 2% Poor.
- 153
- Public bridges
- 40.5%
- Good condition
- 2%
- Poor condition
The verdict
According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory.
Sussex County posts a higher-than-median Poor-condition share among rated counties in the state across mid-size county bridge inventory.
- 3rd
- of 3 on Poor share
- 2%
- Poor-condition share
- 153
- public highway bridges
- 1974
- 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.
Sussex County Bridge Snapshot
According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory, Sussex County ranks #3 of 3 Delaware counties with at least 5 public highway bridges on Poor-condition share (lower share ranks better; currently 2%). Sussex County, Delaware contains 153 public highway bridges. Roughly 40.5% are rated “Good,” 57.5% “Fair,” and 2% “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
40.5%
62 of 153 rated 7-9
Fair condition
57.5%
88 of 153 rated 5-6
Poor condition
2%
3 of 153 rated 4 or below
In-state Poor-share rank
#3 of 3
Among Delaware counties with 5+ bridges, lower share ranks better
Condition distribution
Share of 153 NBI-tracked bridges by lowest applicable component rating.
Good 40.5% (62)
Fair 57.5% (88)
Poor 2% (3)
Sussex County's Poor-condition bridges carry 7,832 vehicle crossings a day
That is 0.8% of the county's reported daily bridge traffic on 2% of its bridges: Poor-condition structures carry less traffic than their share of the inventory. Each Poor bridge averages 2,611 crossings a day against 5,414 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 153 of 153 bridges in this county that report an average daily traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
50.3% of Sussex County's bridges have passed the 50-year mark
77 of the 153 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 40.5% 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 96.5% of the county's Poor-condition bridge traffic
SR 54 over ASSAWOMAN BAY, built 1957, carries 7,555 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 3-bridge count understates how much of the daily burden sits on a single crossing.
Share is of the 7,832 daily crossings on Poor-rated bridges that report a traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
When Sussex County's bridges were built
153 bridges with a recorded construction year, grouped by decade
- 1910s 6
1910–1919
6 bridges
- 1920s 7
1920–1929
7 bridges
- 1930s 9
1930–1939
9 bridges
- 1940s 7
1940–1949
7 bridges
- 1950s
1950–1959
16 bridges
- 1960s
1960–1969
24 bridges
- 1970s
1970–1979
12 bridges
- 1980s
1980–1989
25 bridges
- 1990s
1990–1999
13 bridges
- 2000s 9
2000–2009
9 bridges
- 2010s
2010–2019
19 bridges
- 2020s 6
2020–2029
6 bridges
What this shows Construction peaked in the 1980s, when 25 of the county's bridges still in the inventory were built, which is 16.3% of those with a recorded year. That cohort is now 35 to 44 years old in the 2024 inventory. Its average build year (1974) matches the Delaware average (1977).
How Sussex County compares with Delaware's closest counties by inventory size
The 2 Delaware counties nearest Sussex County in number of bridges, with their condition splits. Its 2% Poor share is the 3rd-lowest of these 3. Its average build year of 1974 against a peer-group mean of 1980 is 6 years older.
| County | Bridges | Good | Fair | Poor | Avg. built |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Castle County | 527 | 34.9% | 64.1% | 0.9% | 1976 |
| Kent County | 192 | 55.7% | 42.7% | 1.6% | 1983 |
| Sussex County (this page) | 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 Sussex 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 Sussex County, both outside Delaware so the neighborhoods are not the same-state size table above.
Similar inventory size
Nearest county inventories outside DE (153 bridges here).
- Jefferson County, IN · 153 bridges
- Harrison County, KY · 153 bridges
- Roger Mills County, OK · 153 bridges
- Perry County, TN · 153 bridges
Similar average build year
Nearest mean year-built outside DE (1974 here).
- Knox County, TN · avg 1974 · 588 bridges
- Summit County, OH · avg 1974 · 563 bridges
- Onondaga County, NY · avg 1974 · 472 bridges
- Orange County, NY · avg 1974 · 472 bridges
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release. Peers floor at 10 bridges so stub inventories cannot own the match.
Fair-condition bridges (88)
POPLAR ST
FairOver: BROAD CREEK
LAUREL, Sussex, DE
Built 1915 Load: 5.8 t ADT: 3,164
FRONT ST
FairOver: NANTICOKE RIVER
SEAFORD, Sussex, DE
Built 1926 Load: 12.6 t ADT: 8,634
BROADKILL RD/SR16
FairOver: BROADKILL SOUND
BROADKILL BEACH, Sussex, DE
Built 1977 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 2,331
ZOAR RD.
FairOver: MORRIS MILL POND
NORTH OF MILLSBORO, Sussex, DE
Built 1932 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 6,149
DUPONT BLVD/US113
FairOver: WARTONS BRANCH
NORTH OF DAGSBORO, Sussex, DE
Built 1911 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 23,985
SEASHORE HY/SR18
FairOver: NANTICOKE RIVER
EAST OF BRIDGEVILLE, Sussex, DE
Built 1920 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 11,140
CLENDANIEL POND RD
FairOver: CLENDANIEL POND
SOUTH OF MILFORD, Sussex, DE
Built 1932 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 1,346
REHOBOTH BLVD/SR14
FairOver: COASTAL HGWY / SR1
EAST MILFORD, Sussex, DE
Built 1971 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 10,734
COASTAL HGWY/SR1
FairOver: MISPILLION RIVER
MILFORD, Sussex, DE
Built 1971 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 12,269
CEDAR BEACH RD
FairOver: COASTAL HGWY / SR1
EAST OF MILFORD, Sussex, DE
Built 1971 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 602
FREEMAN HIGHWAY
FairOver: LEWES-REHOBOTH CANAL
LEWES, Sussex, DE
Built 1966 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 9,371
WOOTEN RD
FairOver: TRUSSUM POND SPILLWAY
S/E OF LAUREL, Sussex, DE
Built 1970 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 1,299
ATLANTIC AVE /SR26
FairOver: ASSAWOMAN CANAL
OCEAN VIEW, Sussex, DE
Built 1987 Load: 27.5 t ADT: 12,852
SR1 NB/COASTAL HY
FairOver: LEWES REHOBOTH CANAL
WEST OF REHOBOTH BEACH, Sussex, DE
Built 1985 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 15,600
COASTAL HWY/SR1 SB
FairOver: LEWES REHOBOTH CANAL
WEST OF REHOBOTH BEACH, Sussex, DE
Built 1978 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 31,200
COASTAL HGWY/SR1
FairOver: MISPILLION RIVER
MILFORD, Sussex, DE
Built 1971 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 12,269
COVERDALE RD.
FairOver: GRAVELLY FORK
N.E.OF SEAFORD, Sussex, DE
Built 1983 Load: 28.5 t ADT: 2,025
CENTRAL AVE
FairOver: ASSAWOMAN CANAL
NORTH OCEAN VIEW, Sussex, DE
Built 1985 Load: 28.5 t ADT: 7,970
COASTAL HGWY/SR1NB
FairOver: PED PATH
NASSAU, Sussex, DE
Built 1967 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 35,563
COASTAL HWY/SR1 SB
FairOver: PED PATH
NASSAU, Sussex, DE
Built 1967 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 35,563
BEACH HGWY / SR 16
FairOver: NANTICOKE RIVER
EAST OF GREENWOOD, Sussex, DE
Built 1936 Load: 29.5 t ADT: 9,027
BETHEL RD.
FairOver: BROAD CREEK
BETHEL, Sussex, DE
Built 1968 Load: 29.5 t ADT: 2,247
SEASHORE HY/SR404
FairOver: MARSHYHOPE CREEK
WEST OF GREENWOOD, Sussex, DE
Built 1958 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 11,755
SAVANNAH RD/US9
FairOver: LEWES-REHOBOTH CANAL
LEWES, Sussex, DE
Built 1983 Load: 31.1 t ADT: 7,657
MIDDLEFORD RD
FairOver: TRIB. OF NANTICOKE RIVER
SEAFORD, Sussex, DE
Built 1954 Load: 31.1 t ADT: 7,838
US 13 N & SR 20 W
FairOver: WILLIAMS POND
S/E OF SEAFORD, Sussex, DE
Built 1952 Load: 31.1 t ADT: 18,487
US 13 S & SR 20 E
FairOver: WILLIAMS POND
EAST OF SEAFORD, Sussex, DE
Built 1952 Load: 31.1 t ADT: 16,698
LAUREL RD
FairOver: JAMES BRANCH
EAST OF LAUREL ON SR24, Sussex, DE
Built 1920 Load: 31.4 t ADT: 6,064
WOODYARD RD
FairOver: WHITE MARSH BRANCH
NE OF GREENWOOD, Sussex, DE
Built 1963 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,095
HUNTERS COVE RD
FairOver: WEST BRANCH
EAST OF GREENWOOD, Sussex, DE
Built 1962 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 197
CART BRANCH RD.
FairOver: CART BRANCH
SOUTH OF GREENWOOD, Sussex, DE
Built 2010 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 25
REHOBOTH AVE
FairOver: LEWES-REHOBOTH CANAL
REHOBOTH BEACH, Sussex, DE
Built 1986 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 25,723
OLD FURNACE RD.
FairOver: NANTICOKE RIVER
EAST OF SEAFORD, Sussex, DE
Built 1919 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 4,937
THARP RD.
FairOver: WILLIAMS POND
EAST OF SEAFORD, Sussex, DE
Built 1994 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 5,483
SAINT GEORGE RD
FairOver: MEADOW BRANCH
SOUTH OF LAUREL, Sussex, DE
Built 1968 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 398
US 113/DUPONT BLVD
FairOver: VINES CREEK
SOUTH OF FRANKFORD, Sussex, DE
Built 1948 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 23,620
PEPPER RD.
FairOver: VINES CREEK
FRANKFORD, Sussex, DE
Built 1990 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 3,436
BLUEBERRY LANE
FairOver: LAUREL DITCH
W. OF FRANKFORD, Sussex, DE
Built 2007 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 303
SR 54/CYPRESS RD.
FairOver: POCOMOKE RIVER
EAST OF GUMBORO, Sussex, DE
Built 1968 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,366
CYPRESS RD. / SR54
FairOver: BALD CYPRESS BRANCH
E.OF GUMBORO, Sussex, DE
Built 1962 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,349
BETHEL RD.
FairOver: POCOMOKE RIVER
SE OF GUMBORO, Sussex, DE
Built 1969 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 398
LAKEVIEW RD.
FairOver: PHILLIPS DITCH
WEST OF MILLSBORO, Sussex, DE
Built 1965 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 442
US 9
FairOver: DELAWARE BAY
LEWES FERRY, Sussex, DE
Built 1964 Load: 33.0 t ADT: 580
US 9
FairOver: DELAWARE BAY
LEWES FERRY, Sussex, DE
Built 1964 Load: 33.0 t ADT: 1,237
BAYARD AVE./SR1A
FairOver: SILVER LAKE
SOUTH REHOBOTH, Sussex, DE
Built 1938 Load: 33.0 t ADT: 7,275
RIFLE RANGE RD
FairOver: NANTICOKE RIVER
EAST OF BRIDGEVILLE, Sussex, DE
Built 1969 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 1,903
GERMAN RD
FairOver: CONCORD POND SPILLWAY
CONCORD POND, Sussex, DE
Built 1980 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 5,902
DOUBLE BRIDGES RD
FairOver: MILLER CREEK
SOUTH OF OCEAN VIEW, Sussex, DE
Built 1986 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 3,100
HIGH ST
FairOver: NORFOLK SOUTHERN
SEAFORD, Sussex, DE
Built 1941 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 6,755
REDDEN RD.
FairOver: GRAVELLY BRANCH
N.W. OF GEORGETOWN, Sussex, DE
Built 1934 Load: 34.7 t ADT: 2,950
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.