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)

HARVEYS BRIDGE RD

Poor

Over: W. BR. BRANDYWINE CREEK

1 Mi W of PA-162 3690-K1, Chester, PA

Built 1926 Load: 9.1 t ADT: 1,897

NORTH REEDS ROAD

Poor

Over: E BR BRANDYWINE CREEK

250 N of PA 282 3471-C2, Chester, PA

Built 1939 Load: 10.0 t ADT: 1,146

SKELP LEVEL ROAD

Poor

Over: NSRC (TRACK REMOVED)

1200 S LR15095 3581-K1, Chester, PA

Built 1927 Load: 10.0 t ADT: 750

LIONS HEAD ROAD

Poor

Over: BIRCH RUN

WEST CALN 3469-E6, Chester, PA

Built 1974 Load: 10.9 t ADT: 86

SEVEN STARS ROAD

Poor

Over: FRENCH CREEK

EAST VINCENT TWP. 14F04, Chester, PA

Built 1856 Load: 10.9 t ADT: 2,994

CREEK ROAD(T542)

Poor

Over: PICKERING CREEK

SCHUYLKILL TWP. 3364-F3, Chester, PA

Built 1879 Load: 10.9 t ADT: 719

OLD SCHUYLKILL RD

Poor

Over: PIGEON CREEK

500 N of PA-724 3139-G9, Chester, PA

Built 1804 Load: 10.9 t ADT: 406

KINGS HIGHWAY

Poor

Over: W. BR. BRANDYWINE CREEK

.3 MI WEST SR 82 28J1, Chester, PA

Built 1935 Load: 11.8 t ADT: 4,624

BROAD RUN ROAD

Poor

Over: BROAD RUN CREEK

NEAR NEW GARDEN 54K4, Chester, PA

Built 1931 Load: 11.8 t ADT: 1,906

GARRETT MILL ROAD

Poor

Over: RIDLEY CREEK

.5 Mi N PA-3 3585-B5, Chester, PA

Built 1930 Load: 11.8 t ADT: 500

WOODVIEW ROAD

Poor

Over: EAST BR WHITE CLAY CR

E. GAPNEWPORT PIKE3800C05, Chester, PA

Built 1990 Load: 11.8 t ADT: 250

DOE RUN ROAD

Poor

Over: DOE RUN

.1MI.WEST TR 841 37K04, Chester, PA

Built 1932 Load: 12.7 t ADT: 4,881

ALLERTON ROAD

Poor

Over: E BR OF BRANDYWINE CREEK

E BRADFORD TWP 3582-J10, Chester, PA

Built 1905 Load: 13.6 t ADT: 1,361

RAVINE ROAD

Poor

Over: BRANCH VALLEY CREEK

3.2 MI S OF SR 30 3582-D1, Chester, PA

Built 1913 Load: 13.6 t ADT: 140

Frog Hollow Road

Poor

Over: Branch of Buck Run

.3 Mi E. of PA-82 3689-J2, Chester, PA

Built 1930 Load: 13.6 t ADT: 560

PRIZER ROAD (T513)

Poor

Over: BEAVER RUN

.4 Mi W. PA-100 3250-C5, Chester, PA

Built 1977 Load: 13.6 t ADT: 500

ART SCHOOL ROAD

Poor

Over: BRANCH PICKERING CREEK

NR.CHESTER SPRINGS 13H10, Chester, PA

Built 1920 Load: 14.5 t ADT: 647

TOWNSHIP ROAD

Poor

Over: W. BRANCH BIG ELK CREEK

.2 Mi NW Balt Pk 3907-K1, Chester, PA

Built 1924 Load: 14.5 t ADT: 1,431

HICKORY HILL ROAD

Poor

Over: LITTLE ELK CREEK

1.7 MI S PA 472 4020-E4, Chester, PA

Built 1889 Load: 14.5 t ADT: 427

DOE RUN ROAD

Poor

Over: BUCK RUN

AT TOWNSHIP LINE 37H1, Chester, PA

Built 1926 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 2,877

FOREST MANOR ROAD

Poor

Over: E. BRANCH BIG ELK CREEK

3/4 Mi S PA-926 3798-E5, Chester, PA

Built 1931 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 499

FRENCH CREEK ROAD

Poor

Over: FRENCH CREEK

1 Mi S of PA 23 3251-D6, Chester, PA

Built 1928 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 321

PUSEY MILL ROAD

Poor

Over: E. BRANCH BIG ELK CREEK

1 Mi NW Balt Pike 3798-F8, Chester, PA

Built 1921 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 1,154

ART SCHOOL ROAD

Poor

Over: BRANCH PICKERING CREEK

NR CHESTER SPRINGS 13H11, Chester, PA

Built 1920 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 647

REEDVILLE ROAD

Poor

Over: BRANCH BIG ELK CREEK

0.5 Mi S Balt Pk 3907-J3, Chester, PA

Built 1963 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 70

HILTON ROAD

Poor

Over: MIDDLE BR. WHITE CLAY CR

W of Walter Rd 3799E04, Chester, PA

Built 1950 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 250

CONESTOGA ROAD

Poor

Over: BRANCH PICKERING CREEK

NW OF ROUTE 113 21F1, Chester, PA

Built 1938 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 7,015

LINCOLN HIGHWAY

Poor

Over: BUCK RUN

NEAR COATESVILLE 27G5, Chester, PA

Built 1927 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 8,447

MILL ROAD (T540)

Poor

Over: VALLEY CREEK

TREDYFFRIN TWP. 24A04, Chester, PA

Built 1867 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 1,831

OCTORARA ROAD

Poor

Over: BUCK RUN

NR.SADSBURYVILLE 3578-F4, Chester, PA

Built 1940 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 2,800

PENNSYLVANIA AVE.

Poor

Over: WHITE CLAY CREEK

.2MI.EAST LR 15047 46E08, Chester, PA

Built 1927 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 18,971

LENAPE ROAD

Poor

Over: BRANCH PLUM RUN

.7 MI. S. PRICE ST. 41A1, Chester, PA

Built 1988 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 8,997

NEWARK ROAD

Poor

Over: EAST BRANCH BIG ELK CRK

NR.LINCOLN UNIV. 44H10, Chester, PA

Built 1922 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 4,199

REISLER ROAD

Poor

Over: JORDAN RUN

ELK TOWNSHIP 4020-B2, Chester, PA

Built 1929 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 150

LIMESTONE ROAD

Poor

Over: US-1 BY-PASS

NORTH OF OXFORD 43H11, Chester, PA

Built 1968 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 8,978

WATERLOO ROAD

Poor

Over: DARBY CREEK

SOUTH OF DEVON 24H12, Chester, PA

Built 1908 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 4,900

ST MALACHI ROAD

Poor

Over: DOE RUN

LONDONDERRY HIGH 3689-D6, Chester, PA

Built 1914 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 103

SHEEDER MILL ROAD

Poor

Over: FRENCH CREEK

3250-K6 ADC Map, Chester, PA

Built 1887 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 187

ELLIS WOODS ROAD

Poor

Over: PIGEON CREEK

2.4 Mi N PA-23 3139-A8, Chester, PA

Built 1950 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 910

BRYSON ROAD

Poor

Over: KNIGHTS RUN

NORTH HOMEVILLE 3687-C10, Chester, PA

Built 1900 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 250

DAVIS ROAD

Poor

Over: CRUM CREEK

1.8MI SW OF SR252 3475-D8, Chester, PA

Built 1956 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 224

CREEK ROAD

Poor

Over: BRANCH BRANDYWINE CREEK

3.6MI.N.OF TR 30 20B07, Chester, PA

Built 1935 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 2,802

GEN.LAFAYETTE BLVD

Poor

Over: RADLEY CREEK

OSBORNE HILL 3693-B4, Chester, PA

Built 1982 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 500

ROUTE 30 BY-PASS

Poor

Over: WEST BR BRANDYWINE CREEK

NEAR VALLEY 28J2, Chester, PA

Built 1963 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 29,503

MANOR ROAD

Poor

Over: EAST BR BRANDYWINE CREEK

EAST OF WYEBROOKE 11A9, Chester, PA

Built 1950 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 3,514

NEWARK ROAD

Poor

Over: MUDDY CREEK

UPPER OXFORD TWP. 43F01, Chester, PA

Built 1932 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 2,341

BIRCH RUN ROAD

Poor

Over: BIRCH RUN

NEAR BIRCHRUNVILLE 13F6, Chester, PA

Built 1923 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 241

WAGONTOWN ROAD

Poor

Over: RAILROAD WILMINGTON BR.

NEAR COATESVILLE 28H3, Chester, PA

Built 1916 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 964

US-1(SB)

Poor

Over: GUERNSEY ROAD

NEAR WEST GROVE 45G7, Chester, PA

Built 1967 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 11,992

VALLEY ROAD

Poor

Over: BUCK RUN

EAST OF PARKESBURG 27J09, Chester, PA

Built 1914 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 6,452

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.