Total bridges
300
Public highway bridges in Washington County
County profile · official public datasets
Washington County, MD
300 public highway bridges tracked in the FHWA National Bridge Inventory: 28.3% rated Good, 67% Fair, 4.7% Poor.
- 300
- Public bridges
- 28.3%
- Good condition
- 4.7%
- Poor condition
The verdict
According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory.
Washington County pairs a better-than-median Poor-condition share among rated counties in the state with an older average build year than the state inventory.
- Top 50%
- lowest Poor share in state
- 4.7%
- Poor-condition share
- 300
- public highway bridges
- 1956
- 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 #12 of 24 Maryland counties with at least 5 public highway bridges on Poor-condition share (lower share ranks better; currently 4.7%). Washington County, Maryland contains 300 public highway bridges. Roughly 28.3% are rated “Good,” 67% “Fair,” and 4.7% “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
28.3%
85 of 300 rated 7-9
Fair condition
67%
201 of 300 rated 5-6
Poor condition
4.7%
14 of 300 rated 4 or below
In-state Poor-share rank
#12 of 24
Among Maryland counties with 5+ bridges, lower share ranks better
Condition distribution
Share of 300 NBI-tracked bridges by lowest applicable component rating.
Good 28.3% (85)
Fair 67% (201)
Poor 4.7% (14)
Washington County's Poor-condition bridges carry 324,080 vehicle crossings a day
That is 6.7% of the county's reported daily bridge traffic on 4.7% of its bridges: Poor-condition structures carry more traffic than their share of the inventory. Each Poor bridge averages 23,149 crossings a day against 15,321 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 300 of 300 bridges in this county that report an average daily traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
76.3% of Washington County's bridges have passed the 50-year mark
229 of the 300 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 28.3% 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 19.3% of the county's Poor-condition bridge traffic
IS 70 EB over US 11, built 1965, carries 62,680 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 14-bridge count understates how much of the daily burden sits on a single crossing.
Share is of the 324,080 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
300 bridges with a recorded construction year, grouped by decade
- pre-1900 22
Built before 1900
22 bridges
- 1900s 11
1900–1909
11 bridges
- 1910s 6
1910–1919
6 bridges
- 1920s 11
1920–1929
11 bridges
- 1930s 15
1930–1939
15 bridges
- 1940s 9
1940–1949
9 bridges
- 1950s 29
1950–1959
29 bridges
- 1960s
1960–1969
118 bridges
- 1970s 15
1970–1979
15 bridges
- 1980s 25
1980–1989
25 bridges
- 1990s 13
1990–1999
13 bridges
- 2000s 16
2000–2009
16 bridges
- 2010s 5
2010–2019
5 bridges
- 2020s 5
2020–2029
5 bridges
What this shows Construction peaked in the 1960s, when 118 of the county's bridges still in the inventory were built, which is 39.3% of those with a recorded year. That cohort is now 55 to 64 years old in the 2024 inventory. Its average build year is 1956, 16 years older than the Maryland average of 1972.
How Washington County compares with Maryland's closest counties by inventory size
The 5 Maryland counties nearest Washington County in number of bridges, with their condition splits. Its 4.7% Poor share is the 2nd-lowest of these 6. Its average build year of 1956 against a peer-group mean of 1973 is 17 years older.
Showing the 5 closest of 23 Maryland counties eligible for comparison.
| County | Bridges | Good | Fair | Poor | Avg. built |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anne Arundel County | 389 | 32.6% | 65.8% | 1.5% | 1980 |
| Baltimore city County | 374 | 16% | 75.4% | 8.6% | 1964 |
| Howard County | 309 | 35.9% | 58.3% | 5.8% | 1978 |
| Washington County (this page) | 300 | 28.3% | 67% | 4.7% | 1956 |
| Harford County | 275 | 38.2% | 57.1% | 4.7% | 1973 |
| Allegany County | 245 | 36.7% | 57.1% | 6.1% | 1971 |
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 Maryland so the neighborhoods are not the same-state size table above.
Similar inventory size
Nearest county inventories outside MD (300 bridges here).
- DeKalb County, AL · 300 bridges
- Christian County, KY · 300 bridges
- Newton County, MO · 300 bridges
- Dawson County, NE · 300 bridges
Similar average build year
Nearest mean year-built outside MD (1956 here).
- Philadelphia County, PA · avg 1956 · 585 bridges
- Cochise County, AZ · avg 1956 · 501 bridges
- Hampden County, MA · avg 1956 · 428 bridges
- Stanislaus County, CA · avg 1956 · 386 bridges
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release. Peers floor at 10 bridges so stub inventories cannot own the match.
Fair-condition bridges (201)
BURHANS BOULEVARD
FairOver: NORFOLK SOUTHERN RAILROA
0.47 MI N OF VIRGINIA AVE, Washington, MD
Built 1962 Load: 53.1 t ADT: 11,223
US 11
FairOver: POTOMAC RIVER CSX TRANS
ON WEST VIRGINIA ST LINE, Washington, MD
Built 1909 Load: 53.5 t ADT: 6,761
PROPHET ACRES ROAD
FairOver: TRIBUTARY OF MARSH RUN
0.01 MI NORTH OF RT 63, Washington, MD
Built 2005 Load: 54.0 t ADT: 84
US 40
FairOver: HAMILTON RUN
0.27 MILE EAST OF MD 64, Washington, MD
Built 1941 Load: 54.4 t ADT: 35,842
IS 81 SB
FairOver: CSX TRANS.
1.28 MILES NORTH OF IS 70, Washington, MD
Built 1964 Load: 54.9 t ADT: 37,409
US 40 EB
FairOver: IS 70 WBR
2.72 M W OF BIG POOL ROAD, Washington, MD
Built 1965 Load: 54.9 t ADT: 1,182
IS 81 NB
FairOver: CSX TRANS.
1.28 MILES NORTH OF IS 70, Washington, MD
Built 1964 Load: 55.3 t ADT: 37,141
BARNES ROAD
FairOver: BEAVER CREEK
0.7 MI NW OF MD RTE 68, Washington, MD
Built 1906 Load: 55.3 t ADT: 399
IS 68 EB
FairOver: SIDELING HILL CREEK
ON ALLEGANY CO LINE, Washington, MD
Built 1982 Load: 55.8 t ADT: 19,950
IS 81 SB
FairOver: MAUGANS AVE
1.89 MILES NORTH OF MD 58, Washington, MD
Built 1958 Load: 56.7 t ADT: 52,330
IS 70 EB
FairOver: CSX TRANS.
0.53 MILE WEST OF IS 81, Washington, MD
Built 1965 Load: 56.7 t ADT: 22,150
IS 70 WB
FairOver: CSX TRANS.
0.53 MILE WEST OF IS 81, Washington, MD
Built 1965 Load: 56.7 t ADT: 23,600
CEDAR RIDGE ROAD
FairOver: MEADOW BROOK
0.2 MI S OF IS 70, Washington, MD
Built 1935 Load: 57.1 t ADT: 900
IS 70
FairOver: BR OF CONOCOCHEAGUE CREE
0.81 MILE EAST OF MD 63, Washington, MD
Built 1966 Load: 58.0 t ADT: 45,040
CEARFOSS PIKE
FairOver: CONOCOCHEAGUE CREEK
0.85 MI SE OF PA LINE, Washington, MD
Built 1977 Load: 58.0 t ADT: 999
BURNSIDE BRIDGE RD
FairOver: SHARMANS BRANCH
0.83 MI SW OF MD RTE 34, Washington, MD
Built 1978 Load: 58.0 t ADT: 310
IS 81 SB
FairOver: MAUGANSVILLE ROAD
0.38 MILE NORTH OF MD 58, Washington, MD
Built 1958 Load: 59.4 t ADT: 63,000
MD 68
FairOver: WINCHESTER & WESTERN RR
0.06 MILE EAST OF MD 63, Washington, MD
Built 1965 Load: 59.4 t ADT: 7,000
KRETSINGER ROAD
FairOver: LITTLE ANTIETAM CREEK
0.18 MI N OF WELTY CH RD, Washington, MD
Built 1987 Load: 59.4 t ADT: 131
WOODMONT ROAD
FairOver: LITTLE TONOLOWAY CREEK
0.19 MI S OF MD 144, Washington, MD
Built 1918 Load: 59.9 t ADT: 507
BENEVOLA NEWCOMER
FairOver: BEAVER CREEK
1.02 MI W OF ALT US RT 40, Washington, MD
Built 1993 Load: 59.9 t ADT: 109
NORTH BURHANS BLVD
FairOver: NORFOLK SOUTHERN RAILROA
0.4 MI N OF RTE 40 W, Washington, MD
Built 1960 Load: 59.9 t ADT: 16,086
IS 68 EB
FairOver: RICE ROAD
1.71 MILES EAST OF MD 903, Washington, MD
Built 1985 Load: 60.8 t ADT: 19,950
DAM NO. 5 ROAD
FairOver: LITTLE CONOCOCHEAGUE CRE
2.23 MI SW OF MD RTE 56, Washington, MD
Built 1993 Load: 61.7 t ADT: 430
IS 81 NB
FairOver: MAUGANSVILLE ROAD
0.38 MILE NORTH OF MD 58, Washington, MD
Built 1958 Load: 63.0 t ADT: 63,000
MD 144WB
FairOver: LITTLE TONOLOWAY CREEK
0.01 MILE WEST OF US 522, Washington, MD
Built 1925 Load: 63.5 t ADT: 4,051
US 522
FairOver: IS 70 EBR RAMP A
.545 MILE NORTH OF MD 894, Washington, MD
Built 1965 Load: 63.5 t ADT: 8,230
IS 81 NB
FairOver: NORFOLK SOUTHERN RR
0.57 MILE NORTH OF MD 58, Washington, MD
Built 1958 Load: 64.9 t ADT: 63,000
IS 81 SB
FairOver: NORFOLK SOUTHERN RR
0.57 MILE NORTH OF MD 58, Washington, MD
Built 1958 Load: 64.9 t ADT: 63,000
VIRGINIA AVENUE
FairOver: NORFOLK SOUTHERN RAILROA
100 FT S OF W WILSON BLVD, Washington, MD
Built 1983 Load: 64.9 t ADT: 14,139
SANDY HOOK ROAD
FairOver: CSXT RAILROAD
1.0 MI W OF US RTE 340, Washington, MD
Built 1925 Load: 65.3 t ADT: 1,727
MD 66
FairOver: BEAVER CREEK
1.95 MILES N OF MD 910B, Washington, MD
Built 1932 Load: 66.7 t ADT: 8,291
US 40 EB
FairOver: IS 81
1.4 MILES WEST OF US 11, Washington, MD
Built 1958 Load: 67.6 t ADT: 12,846
US 40 WB
FairOver: IS 81
1.4 MILES WEST OF US 11, Washington, MD
Built 1958 Load: 67.6 t ADT: 12,846
MD 64
FairOver: ANTIETAM CREEK
0.36 M E OF ANTIETAM DR, Washington, MD
Built 1933 Load: 71.2 t ADT: 12,022
IS 81
FairOver: TRIB TO SEMPLE RUN
0.43 MILE NORTH OF IS 70, Washington, MD
Built 1965 Load: 72.6 t ADT: 68,040
MD 58
FairOver: IS 81
0.26 M E/BROADFORDING RD, Washington, MD
Built 1958 Load: 73.0 t ADT: 14,431
GREENSBURG ROAD
FairOver: LITTLE ANTIETAM CREEK
0.8 MI NE OF MD RTE 64, Washington, MD
Built 1974 Load: 73.0 t ADT: 811
HARPERS FERRY ROAD
FairOver: ANTIETAM CREEK
ANTIETAM MD, Washington, MD
Built 1832 Load: 77.1 t ADT: 720
COLLEGE ROAD
FairOver: SAINT JAMES RUN
1.0 MI NE OF MD RTE 68, Washington, MD
Built 1950 Load: 79.8 t ADT: 1,006
MD 68
FairOver: ANTIETAM CREEK
1.9 MILES EAST OF MD 65, Washington, MD
Built 1833 Load: 81.6 t ADT: 2,592
SOUTH POINTE DRIVE
FairOver: TRIBUTARY OF ANTIETAM CR
0.2 MI N OF EAST RIDGE DR, Washington, MD
Built 1993 Load: 81.6 t ADT: 3,828
US 40 ALT
FairOver: BEAVER CREEK
1.75 MILES EAST OF MD 741, Washington, MD
Built 1931 Load: 86.2 t ADT: 6,082
MD 63
FairOver: BR OF CONOCOCHEAGUE CREE
1.05 MILES NORTH OF US 11, Washington, MD
Built 1959 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 9,581
IS 70 WB
FairOver: LITTLE CONOCOCHEAGUE CRE
1.34 MILES EAST OF MD 68, Washington, MD
Built 1965 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 40,770
IS 70 WB
FairOver: MEADOW BROOK CREEK
3.06 MILES EAST OF MD 68, Washington, MD
Built 1967 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 40,770
IS 70
FairOver: LANDIS SPRING BRANCH
0.58 MILE EAST OF US 40, Washington, MD
Built 1966 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 61,140
IS 68
FairOver: BEAR CREEK
1.18 MILES WEST OF MD 903, Washington, MD
Built 1982 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 19,950
MD 418
FairOver: TRIB TO RED RUN
0.01 M W OF PENNSYLVANIA, Washington, MD
Built 1958 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 5,880
HALFWAY BOULEVARD
FairOver: CSXT RAILROAD
0.17 MI W OF I 81, Washington, MD
Built 1965 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 18,183
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.