Total bridges
760
Public highway bridges in Wake County
County profile · official public datasets
Wake County, NC
760 public highway bridges tracked in the FHWA National Bridge Inventory: 53.8% rated Good, 40.4% Fair, 5.8% Poor.
- 760
- Public bridges
- 53.8%
- Good condition
- 5.8%
- Poor condition
The verdict
According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory.
Wake 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.
- 59th
- of 100 on Poor share
- 5.8%
- Poor-condition share
- 760
- public highway bridges
- 1992
- 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.
Wake County Bridge Snapshot
According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory, Wake County ranks #59 of 100 North Carolina counties with at least 5 public highway bridges on Poor-condition share (lower share ranks better; currently 5.8%). Wake County, North Carolina contains 760 public highway bridges. Roughly 53.8% are rated “Good,” 40.4% “Fair,” and 5.8% “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
53.8%
409 of 760 rated 7-9
Fair condition
40.4%
307 of 760 rated 5-6
Poor condition
5.8%
44 of 760 rated 4 or below
In-state Poor-share rank
#59 of 100
Among North Carolina counties with 5+ bridges, lower share ranks better
Condition distribution
Share of 760 NBI-tracked bridges by lowest applicable component rating.
Good 53.8% (409)
Fair 40.4% (307)
Poor 5.8% (44)
Wake County's Poor-condition bridges carry 466,199 vehicle crossings a day
That is 3.3% of the county's reported daily bridge traffic on 5.8% of its bridges: Poor-condition structures carry less traffic than their share of the inventory. Each Poor bridge averages 10,595 crossings a day against 16,028 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 760 of 760 bridges in this county that report an average daily traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
21.3% of Wake County's bridges have passed the 50-year mark
162 of the 760 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 53.8% 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 9.8% of the county's Poor-condition bridge traffic
US1NBL over SEABOARD RR, built 1941, carries 45,500 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 44-bridge count understates how much of the daily burden sits on a single crossing.
Share is of the 466,199 daily crossings on Poor-rated bridges that report a traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
When Wake County's bridges were built
760 bridges with a recorded construction year, grouped by decade
- 1920s 4
1920–1929
4 bridges
- 1930s 5
1930–1939
5 bridges
- 1940s 5
1940–1949
5 bridges
- 1950s 34
1950–1959
34 bridges
- 1960s
1960–1969
76 bridges
- 1970s
1970–1979
85 bridges
- 1980s
1980–1989
99 bridges
- 1990s
1990–1999
105 bridges
- 2000s
2000–2009
171 bridges
- 2010s
2010–2019
123 bridges
- 2020s 53
2020–2029
53 bridges
What this shows Construction peaked in the 2000s, when 171 of the county's bridges still in the inventory were built, which is 22.5% of those with a recorded year. That cohort is now 15 to 24 years old in the 2024 inventory. Its average build year is 1992, 6 years newer than the North Carolina average of 1986.
How Wake County compares with North Carolina's closest counties by inventory size
The 5 North Carolina counties nearest Wake County in number of bridges, with their condition splits. Its 5.8% Poor share is the 4th-lowest of these 6. Its average build year of 1992 against a peer-group mean of 1986 is 6 years newer.
Showing the 5 closest of 99 North Carolina counties eligible for comparison.
| County | Bridges | Good | Fair | Poor | Avg. built |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wake County (this page) | 760 | 53.8% | 40.4% | 5.8% | 1992 |
| Mecklenburg County | 746 | 46.4% | 51.1% | 2.5% | 1989 |
| Guilford County | 736 | 51.8% | 42.9% | 5.3% | 1990 |
| Buncombe County | 555 | 34.6% | 58.4% | 7% | 1978 |
| Forsyth County | 454 | 41.2% | 49.8% | 9% | 1985 |
| Randolph County | 401 | 45.6% | 52.9% | 1.5% | 1988 |
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 Wake 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 Wake County, both outside North Carolina so the neighborhoods are not the same-state size table above.
Similar inventory size
Nearest county inventories outside NC (760 bridges here).
- Fairfax County, VA · 751 bridges
- Westchester County, NY · 774 bridges
- Fulton County, GA · 775 bridges
- Sacramento County, CA · 740 bridges
Similar average build year
Nearest mean year-built outside NC (1992 here).
- Johnson County, KS · avg 1992 · 781 bridges
- Benton County, AR · avg 1992 · 410 bridges
- Nodaway County, MO · avg 1992 · 396 bridges
- Cameron County, TX · avg 1992 · 355 bridges
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release. Peers floor at 10 bridges so stub inventories cannot own the match.
All bridges (760)
I495S 87US64/264W
FairOver: NEUSE RIVER
0.3 MI. W. JCT. SR2516, Wake, NC
Built 2005 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 82,500
I87N US64E
FairOver: MARKS CREEK
0.3 MI. W SR2501, Wake, NC
Built 2002 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 52,500
SR2049
FairOver: HARRIS CREEK
0.2 MI.N.JCT.SR2223, Wake, NC
Built 1977 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 10,500
NC96
FairOver: US64 US264
.32 MI S. JCT SR1001, Wake, NC
Built 1973 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 23,500
SR1649
FairOver: RICHLAND CREEK
0.8 MI. W. JCT. SR1664, Wake, NC
Built 1970 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 7,700
SR1603
FairOver: WHITE OAK CREEK
0.82 MI.N.JCT. SR1601, Wake, NC
Built 1994 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 880
US401NBL
FairOver: MIDDLE CREEK
0.3 MI S JCT SR2724, Wake, NC
Built 1953 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 27,000
US401S
FairOver: SWIFT CREEK
0.3 MI N. OF JCT. SR1446, Wake, NC
Built 1953 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 29,500
SR1795
FairOver: I40
0.7 MI. N. OF JCT. SR3090, Wake, NC
Built 1969 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 400
US64W.BUS
FairOver: BUFFALO CREEK
0.5 MI.W.NC97, Wake, NC
Built 1925 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 8,500
ASHE AVENUE
FairOver: NORFORK SOUTHERN RR
0.3 MI.N.JCT.WESTERN BLVD, Wake, NC
Built 1976 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 5,300
SR1670
FairOver: CRABTREE CREEK
0.1 MI.N. OF JCT.SR1760, Wake, NC
Built 1967 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 16,000
NC147S NC540S.RAMP
FairOver: SR1613
@ JCT. SR1613, Wake, NC
Built 2007 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 11,125
SR1005
FairOver: FALLS LAKE
0.9 MI. S. JCT. NC98, Wake, NC
Built 1981 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 6,500
SR1007
FairOver: MARKS CREEK
0.1 MI. W. JCT. SR2505, Wake, NC
Built 1970 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 2,700
GLEN EDEN
FairOver: I440
0.38 MI E JCT SR1670, Wake, NC
Built 1963 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 10,000
US64
FairOver: SWIFT CREEK
INT.US1&64, Wake, NC
Built 1959 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 64,500
SR1902
FairOver: FALLS LAKE
0.1 MI. W. OF JCT. SR1901, Wake, NC
Built 1980 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 1,700
SR2217
FairOver: HODGES MILL CREEK
0.24 MI S JCT SR2222, Wake, NC
Built 1977 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 3,100
SR2551
FairOver: WALNUT CREEK
0.3 MI. S. OF JCT. SR1007, Wake, NC
Built 1968 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 12,500
SR4067
FairOver: SWIFT CREEK
0.4 MI. S. JCT. SR1009, Wake, NC
Built 1981 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 3,000
US64E
FairOver: D&S RR
0.21 MI. E. JCT. SR1011, Wake, NC
Built 1963 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 20,500
SR1149
FairOver: US1
250 N. OF SR1154, Wake, NC
Built 1962 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 1,200
SR2320
FairOver: US64
0.7 MI. N. JCT. SR2406, Wake, NC
Built 1973 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 3,800
RUSH STREET
FairOver: WILDCAT BRANCH
.02 MI. E. JCT.HAMMOND RD, Wake, NC
Built 1960 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 9,200
I40
FairOver: BRIER CREEK
0.9 MI.W.SR1002, Wake, NC
Built 1968 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 116,000
US70W NC50N
FairOver: CRABTREE CREEK
0.2 MI. W. JCT. US1, Wake, NC
Built 1952 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 36,250
US64 WBL/RAMP
FairOver: SWIFT CREEK
0.1MI S JCT US1, Wake, NC
Built 1959 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 31,000
SR2509
FairOver: NEUSE RIVER
0.3 MI. N. JCT. SR2542, Wake, NC
Built 1959 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 4,300
SR2026
FairOver: WALNUT CREEK
0.3 MI.N.JCT.I40, Wake, NC
Built 1977 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 20,500
BROOKS AVENUE
FairOver: BEAVER DAM CREEK
0.1MI.S.JCT.LAKE BOONE TR, Wake, NC
Built 1960 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 1,300
NORTH HILLS DRIVE
FairOver: MINE CREEK
0.1MI.W.JCT.NORTHBROOK DR, Wake, NC
Built 1960 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 5,600
S.STATE STREET
FairOver: WALNUT CREEK
0.07 MI.N.JCT.DARBY ST., Wake, NC
Built 1970 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 3,500
SR3015
FairOver: BRIER CREEK
0.1 MI.NE. OF I40, Wake, NC
Built 1971 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 2,400
SR2000
FairOver: PIGEON HOUSE CREEK
0.1 MI NORTH JCT. SR1511, Wake, NC
Built 1960 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 12,000
SR1012
FairOver: ROCKY BRANCH
0.1 MI.E.JCT.HUNT DRIVE, Wake, NC
Built 1940 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 29,000
US70 US401RMP
FairOver: PIGEON HOUSE CREEK
0.3 MI.E. OF JCT.SR1793, Wake, NC
Built 1958 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 11,666
SR1152
FairOver: MIDDLE CREEK
0.3MI.S. OF JCT SR1549, Wake, NC
Built 1951 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 14,000
FENTON STREET
FairOver: PIGEON HOUSE CREEK
0.1 MI. W. JCT. SR1511, Wake, NC
Built 1955 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 15,000
US401
FairOver: TERRIBLE CREEK
0.2 MI.S. OF JCT.SR2753, Wake, NC
Built 1926 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 11,750
I40
FairOver: WALNUT CREEK
0.5 MI. W. JCT. US1, Wake, NC
Built 1982 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 100,000
NC96
FairOver: LITTLE RIVER
0.3 MI.N. JCT. SR2303, Wake, NC
Built 1940 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 9,200
I440
FairOver: MARSH CREEK
0.8 MI.W.JCT.SR1012, Wake, NC
Built 1960 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 115,000
GORMAN STREET
FairOver: BRANCH OF WALNUT CREEK
.03 MI. N. JCT. BRENT RD., Wake, NC
Built 1975 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 14,000
US1
FairOver: RICHLAND CREEK
1.2 MI. S. JCT. NC98, Wake, NC
Built 1960 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 48,500
WESTON PARKWAY
FairOver: CRABTREE CREEK TRIBUTARY
0.25MI.W.JCT.EVANS RD, Wake, NC
Built 1988 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 17,500
BOYLAN AVE
FairOver: ROCKY BRANCH
.1 MI.S.JCT.WESTERN BLVD, Wake, NC
Built 1994 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 3,500
NC50
FairOver: BARTONS CREEK
0.2 MI. S. JCT. SR3286, Wake, NC
Built 1970 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 25,500
NC50
FairOver: UPPER BARTON CREEK
0.1 MI. S. JCT SR1842, Wake, NC
Built 1962 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 15,000
I-40
FairOver: CREEK
0.2MI.W.SR1564, Wake, NC
Built 1977 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 71,000
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.