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

All bridges (680)

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

Ewing Road

Good

Over: MIDDLE BR WHITE CLAY CRK

NEAR WEST GROVE 45F06, Chester, PA

Built 2018 Load: 43.4 t ADT: 492

ROUTE 202 (NB)

Good

Over: AMTRAK;RAMP EB;DUNWOODY

SOUTH OF RT. 30 22D11, Chester, PA

Built 1969 Load: 43.5 t ADT: 24,392

NORTH BAILEY ROAD

Good

Over: TRIBUTARY OF BEAVER RUN

.5 MI. N. US-30 3470H08, Chester, PA

Built 2007 Load: 43.5 t ADT: 3,000

PHOENIXVILLE PIKE

Good

Over: VALLEY CREEK

1.7 MI. N. SR 30 22F6, Chester, PA

Built 1996 Load: 44.5 t ADT: 12,235

STATE ROAD

Good

Over: BIG ELK CREEK

3 MI TO LEWISVILLE 52G8, Chester, PA

Built 2001 Load: 44.5 t ADT: 955

EXTON BYPASS(EB)

Good

Over: CLOVER MILL ROAD

CLOVER BUS PARK 31D01, Chester, PA

Built 1995 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 26,791

ROUTE 202 (SB)

Good

Over: AMTRAK;RAMP EB;DUNWOODY

SOUTH OF RT 30 22D11, Chester, PA

Built 1969 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 25,031

WESTBOURNE ROAD

Good

Over: CHESTER CREEK

WESTTOWN SCHOOL 41J2, Chester, PA

Built 2000 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 2,346

STATE ROAD

Good

Over: MIDDLE BR.WHITE CLAY CR.

NR.WEST GROVE 45F10, Chester, PA

Built 1992 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 1,502

Shadyside Road

Good

Over: Broad Run

3581-C7, Chester, PA

Built 2010 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 2,200

NEWPORT PIKE

Good

Over: VALLEY CREEK

1/4 MI. S. PA372 26H12, Chester, PA

Built 2015 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 10,974

EXTON BYPASS(EB)

Good

Over: SHIP ROAD

1.25MI.E.RT 100 22A12, Chester, PA

Built 1994 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 22,730

LEWISVILLE ROAD

Good

Over: HODGSON RUN

2.0 MI. PEACEDALE 53B8, Chester, PA

Built 1998 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 1,306

MAIN STREET

Good

Over: FRENCH CREEK

PHOENIXVILLE BORO 15E05, Chester, PA

Built 1847 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 6,616

RAMP O

Good

Over: RAMPS L N Q R S

.1 MI. N. DV. PK 25A2, Chester, PA

Built 2001 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 4,874

MEDIA ROAD

Good

Over: LITTLE ELK CREEK

HICKORY HILL 52C08, Chester, PA

Built 2000 Load: 47.2 t ADT: 261

GREEN STREET

Good

Over: PARKE RUN

S of Jefferson Av 3471J10, Chester, PA

Built 1990 Load: 47.2 t ADT: 800

EAST BOOT ROAD

Good

Over: RIDLEY CREEK

0.25 Mi E PA 352 3584-D2, Chester, PA

Built 1970 Load: 48.1 t ADT: 970

UWCHLAN AVENUE

Good

Over: PA TURNPIKE(I-76);EB-722

EAST OF TPK TOLL 21E4, Chester, PA

Built 2005 Load: 48.1 t ADT: 17,553

CLAY CREEK ROAD

Good

Over: E. BR. WHITE CLAY CREEK

NEOFINNISCRONE DR 3800C10, Chester, PA

Built 1995 Load: 48.1 t ADT: 500

INNISCRONE DRIVE

Good

Over: E. BR WHITE CLAY CREEK

WOF AVONDALERD 3800C10, Chester, PA

Built 2000 Load: 48.1 t ADT: 250

BEAUMONT ROAD

Good

Over: DARBY CREEK

East of Newtown Rd 3476C6, Chester, PA

Built 1990 Load: 48.1 t ADT: 1,000

PUSEY MILL ROAD

Good

Over: E.BRANCH BIG ELK CREEK

0.8 MI NW Balt PK 3798-G8, Chester, PA

Built 2014 Load: 48.6 t ADT: 973

Crossover Blvd.

Good

Over: Branch of French Creek

3/4 M Twnshp Line 3252-C7, Chester, PA

Built 2018 Load: 48.6 t ADT: 500

STATE ROAD

Good

Over: PICKERING CREEK

SOUTH PHONEXVILLE 15B11, Chester, PA

Built 2001 Load: 49.0 t ADT: 5,860

EXTON BYPASS (EB)

Good

Over: VALLEY CREEK

CLOVER BUS PARK 31D1, Chester, PA

Built 1995 Load: 49.0 t ADT: 26,791

EXTON BYPASS(WB)

Good

Over: VALLEY CREEK

CLOVER BUS PARK 31D01, Chester, PA

Built 1995 Load: 49.0 t ADT: 29,961

SPRING HOLLOW ROAD

Good

Over: STONY RUN

E PIKELAND TWP 3252-D6, Chester, PA

Built 1934 Load: 49.0 t ADT: 499

NEWPORT PIKE

Good

Over: OFFICERS RUN

ATGLEN 26H12, Chester, PA

Built 1954 Load: 49.2 t ADT: 10,974

WALNUT GLENN ROAD

Good

Over: WAYS RUN

E LEWISVILLE RD 3909B09, Chester, PA

Built 2010 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 500

LIT. WASHINGTON RD

Good

Over: CULBERTSON RUN

NR. RTE.137 SPUR E 19H6, Chester, PA

Built 2022 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 1,074

WHITE HORSE ROAD

Good

Over: CRUM CREEK

3 MI. SE MALVERN 34B2, Chester, PA

Built 1998 Load: 50.8 t ADT: 1,744

DILWORTHTOWN ROAD

Good

Over: CHESTER CREEK

THORBURY TWP;CHEYEY 41H12, Chester, PA

Built 1990 Load: 50.8 t ADT: 2,761

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.