County profile · official public datasets

Chester County, PA

680 public highway bridges tracked in the FHWA National Bridge Inventory: 25% rated Good, 61.3% Fair, 13.7% Poor.

680
Public bridges
25%
Good condition
13.7%
Poor condition

The verdict

According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory.

Chester County pairs a higher-than-median Poor-condition share among rated counties in the state with an older average build year than the state inventory.

43rd
of 67 on Poor share
13.7%
Poor-condition share
680
public highway bridges
1963
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.

Chester County Bridge Snapshot

According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory, Chester County ranks #43 of 67 Pennsylvania counties with at least 5 public highway bridges on Poor-condition share (lower share ranks better; currently 13.7%). Chester County, Pennsylvania contains 680 public highway bridges. Roughly 25% are rated “Good,” 61.3% “Fair,” and 13.7% “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.

Total bridges

680

Public highway bridges in Chester County

Good condition

25%

170 of 680 rated 7-9

Fair condition

61.3%

417 of 680 rated 5-6

Poor condition

13.7%

93 of 680 rated 4 or below

In-state Poor-share rank

#43 of 67

Among Pennsylvania counties with 5+ bridges, lower share ranks better

Condition distribution

Share of 680 NBI-tracked bridges by lowest applicable component rating.

Good
25% (170)
Fair
61.3% (417)
Poor
13.7% (93)

Chester County's Poor-condition bridges carry 376,529 vehicle crossings a day

That is 5.5% of the county's reported daily bridge traffic on 13.4% of its bridges: Poor-condition structures carry less traffic than their share of the inventory. Each Poor bridge averages 4,138 crossings a day against 7,828 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 678 of 680 bridges in this county that report an average daily traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.

62.6% of Chester County's bridges have passed the 50-year mark

426 of the 680 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 25% 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 17.1% of the county's Poor-condition bridge traffic

ROUTE 30 BY-PASS over CREEK RD BRANDYWINE CK., built 1961, carries 64,245 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 93-bridge count understates how much of the daily burden sits on a single crossing.

Share is of the 376,529 daily crossings on Poor-rated bridges that report a traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.

When Chester County's bridges were built

680 bridges with a recorded construction year, grouped by decade

bridges

What this shows Construction peaked in the 1960s, when 144 of the county's bridges still in the inventory were built, which is 21.2% of those with a recorded year. That cohort is now 55 to 64 years old in the 2024 inventory. Its average build year is 1963, 7 years older than the Pennsylvania average of 1970.

Source FHWA National Bridge Inventory (year built) As of 2024 NBI release

How Chester County compares with Pennsylvania's closest counties by inventory size

The 5 Pennsylvania counties nearest Chester County in number of bridges, with their condition splits. Its 13.7% Poor share is the 3rd-lowest of these 6. Its average build year of 1963 against a peer-group mean of 1964 is in line with the group.

Showing the 5 closest of 66 Pennsylvania counties eligible for comparison.

Bridge inventory size and condition shares for Chester County and the 5 Pennsylvania counties closest to it in inventory size
County Bridges Poor
Bucks County 699 15.5%
Chester County (this page) 680 13.7%
Berks County 667 15%
Washington County 655 12.1%
Westmoreland County 620 15.8%
Philadelphia County 585 13.2%

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 Chester 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 Chester County, both outside Pennsylvania so the neighborhoods are not the same-state size table above.

Similar inventory size

Nearest county inventories outside PA (680 bridges here).

Similar average build year

Nearest mean year-built outside PA (1963 here).

Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release. Peers floor at 10 bridges so stub inventories cannot own the match.

All 680 Good 170 Fair 417 Poor 93

Good-condition bridges (170)

COLD SPRINGS DRIVE

Good

Over: TRIB. TO CHESTER CREEK

0.6 Mi. E US-202 3583-J8, Chester, PA

Built 2008 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 100

TWP-540

Good

Over: PA TPK (I-76)

West of Valley Forge Park, Chester, PA

Built 2011 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 200

Sunnyside Rd T-326

Good

Over: East Penn Railway

.5 Mi S Balt Pk 3799-C10, Chester, PA

Built 2012 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 200

U.S. 202

Good

Over: PLANEBROOK ROAD

1 MI. N. US30 3473H04, Chester, PA

Built 2016 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 105,727

STREET ROAD

Good

Over: BRANDYWINE CREEK

.2MI. W. OLD 100 3693A6, Chester, PA

Built 2017 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 12,042

5TH STREET

Good

Over: LITTLE ELK

SOUTH OF OXFORD 51H5, Chester, PA

Built 2022 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 1,336

HOPEWELL ROAD

Good

Over: TWEED CREEK

2MI W.OXFORD 50K3/3906H6, Chester, PA

Built 1998 Load: 37.2 t ADT: 1,456

FAIRVIEW ROAD

Good

Over: E. BR. BRANDYWINE CREEK

EAST OF RTE 282 11G11, Chester, PA

Built 1973 Load: 37.2 t ADT: 2,022

NOTTINGHAM DRIVE

Good

Over: BRANCH OF FRENCH CREEK

NE of Penn Drive 3251B4, Chester, PA

Built 1990 Load: 37.2 t ADT: 350

SPRINGTON ROAD

Good

Over: INDIAN RUN

NEAR SPRINGTON 19G1, Chester, PA

Built 1938 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 422

SCHUYLKILL ROAD

Good

Over: ECKERS CREEK

NEAR LR 779 02A12, Chester, PA

Built 2022 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 5,108

BROAD RUN ROAD

Good

Over: E. BR. WHITE CLAY CREEK

.1 MI. S. I-95 3910H7, Chester, PA

Built 2013 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 1,906

EAST LOCUST LANE

Good

Over: E. BR. RED CLAY CREEK

0.6 MI E SR82 ADC 3801-H2, Chester, PA

Built 2023 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 750

WEST CHESTER BYPAS

Good

Over: WEST CHESTER RR (SEPTA)

NEAR WEST CHESTER 32E12, Chester, PA

Built 2011 Load: 37.9 t ADT: 56,708

T-428 Milford Rd

Good

Over: PA TPK (I-76)

West of Devault, Chester, PA

Built 1950 Load: 37.9 t ADT: 530

DOWNINGTOWN PIKE

Good

Over: E. BR. BRANDYWINE CREEK

WEST BRADFORD TWP. 31A9, Chester, PA

Built 2020 Load: 37.9 t ADT: 12,126

SR 0345 LR15144

Good

Over: PA TPK (I-76)

E. of Morgantown Int., Chester, PA

Built 2022 Load: 37.9 t ADT: 2,575

HARMONYVILLE ROAD

Good

Over: PINE CREEK

FRENCH CREEK SP 4H7, Chester, PA

Built 2005 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 161

VALLEY FORGE ROAD

Good

Over: PA TURNPIKE (I-76)

ENT. VAL. FORGE PARK 16E1, Chester, PA

Built 2009 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 5,025

Ramp C

Good

Over: SR 1016

SR 29 Interchange, Chester, PA

Built 2012 Load: 38.2 t ADT: 2,000

VALLEY FORGE ROAD

Good

Over: PICKERING CREEK

NEAR PHOENIXVILLE 15H7, Chester, PA

Built 1967 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 17,642

U.S. 202

Good

Over: CONESTOGA ROAD (PA401)

1.5 MI. N. US30 3473K02, Chester, PA

Built 2016 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 85,474

Kulp Road T-526

Good

Over: Pigeon Creek

3MI.S of Pottstown3138K9, Chester, PA

Built 2017 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 450

Crossover Blvd.

Good

Over: Branch of French Creek

1/2M Twnshp Rd. 3252-C7, Chester, PA

Built 2018 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 500

HESS MILL ROAD

Good

Over: W. BR. WHITE CLAY CREEK

1/4 Mi W PA-841 3909-G8, Chester, PA

Built 2020 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 500

HORSESHOE TRAIL

Good

Over: PICKERING CREEK

.14 MI. W. PA113 3362K06, Chester, PA

Built 2022 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 500

FAIRVIEW ROAD

Good

Over: BEAVER RUN

.1 MI. W. RTE 100 12K2, Chester, PA

Built 2010 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 819

WEMBLEY DRIVE

Good

Over: BRANCH OF TROUT CREEK

N OF SWEDESFORD RD 3368C8, Chester, PA

Built 1990 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 110

Springhouse Road

Good

Over: Pickering Creek

NW of Kimberton Rd 3363A5, Chester, PA

Built 1994 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 400

KAOLIN ROAD

Good

Over: W. BRANCH RED CLAY CREEK

BET RTE. 82 & 41 47F11, Chester, PA

Built 1960 Load: 39.2 t ADT: 7,878

MAIN STREET

Good

Over: VALLEY CREEK

2000 W SR 41 3577E10, Chester, PA

Built 2012 Load: 39.5 t ADT: 1,501

STATE ROAD

Good

Over: LITTLE ELK CREEK

NEAR MT ROCKY 4020B05, Chester, PA

Built 2018 Load: 39.5 t ADT: 1,053

STATE STREET

Good

Over: INDIAN CREEK

1500 FT OF SR41 3800-E9, Chester, PA

Built 2018 Load: 39.5 t ADT: 8,699

STREET ROAD

Good

Over: CHESTER CREEK

WEST OF TR-352 41G11, Chester, PA

Built 2004 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 9,406

NORTH VALLEY ROAD

Good

Over: BRANCH VALLEY CREEK

NORTH OF PAOLI 23J05, Chester, PA

Built 1970 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 4,959

FIVE POINT ROAD

Good

Over: BIRCH RUN

HIGHLAND TOWNSHIP 37B02, Chester, PA

Built 1997 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 298

HARMONYVILLE ROAD

Good

Over: FRENCH CREEK

NEAR HARMONYVILLE 3248J1, Chester, PA

Built 2010 Load: 40.2 t ADT: 161

STREET ROAD

Good

Over: RADLEY RUN

AT OLD RTE 100 3693A6, Chester, PA

Built 2017 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 12,042

STREET ROAD

Good

Over: LONGWOOD GARDENS ACCESS

ADL LONGWOOD GARD 39K12, Chester, PA

Built 2001 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 8,037

GLENROSE ROAD

Good

Over: BUCK RUN

NEAR GLENROSE 28C12, Chester, PA

Built 2002 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 198

WESTTOWN ROAD

Good

Over: EAST BR CHESTER CREEK

WESTTOWN 32K12, Chester, PA

Built 2004 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 2,071

FAIRVIEW ROAD

Good

Over: TWEED CREEK

LOWER OXFORD TWP 3906F4, Chester, PA

Built 2010 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 211

BOOT ROAD

Good

Over: PA 100 BYPASS TO SB 202

INDIAN KING 31K01, Chester, PA

Built 1968 Load: 41.7 t ADT: 14,198

PARK ROAD(T-496)

Good

Over: EAST BR BRANDYWINE CREEK

WALLACE TOWNSHIP 11G12, Chester, PA

Built 1990 Load: 41.7 t ADT: 239

REID ROAD (T427)

Good

Over: WEST BR. BRANDYWINE CRK

W CALN; W BRANDYW 18J08, Chester, PA

Built 2008 Load: 41.7 t ADT: 345

T-523

Good

Over: Pa TPK I-76

W. of Downingtown Int., Chester, PA

Built 2022 Load: 41.7 t ADT: 947

HARMONYVILLE ROAD

Good

Over: PINE CREEK

.5 MI E. PA 345 3136G1, Chester, PA

Built 2012 Load: 42.4 t ADT: 161

STREET ROAD

Good

Over: WEST CHESTER RR (SEPTA)

WESTTOWN STATION 41J3, Chester, PA

Built 1987 Load: 42.6 t ADT: 9,765

ELLIS LANE

Good

Over: TRIBUTARY OF CHESTER CRE

E GOSHEN TWP ADC 3583-K4, Chester, PA

Built 1974 Load: 42.6 t ADT: 3,764

T-488 YellowSpring

Good

Over: PA TPK (I-76)

WEST OF DEVAULT, Chester, PA

Built 2017 Load: 43.1 t ADT: 200

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Related

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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.