Total bridges
127
Public highway bridges in Ritchie County
County profile · official public datasets
Ritchie County, WV
127 public highway bridges tracked in the FHWA National Bridge Inventory: 33.9% rated Good, 39.4% Fair, 26.8% Poor.
- 127
- Public bridges
- 33.9%
- Good condition
- 26.8%
- Poor condition
The verdict
According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory.
Ritchie 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.
- 50th
- of 55 on Poor share
- 26.8%
- Poor-condition share
- 127
- public highway bridges
- 1967
- 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.
Ritchie County Bridge Snapshot
According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory, Ritchie County ranks #50 of 55 West Virginia counties with at least 5 public highway bridges on Poor-condition share (lower share ranks better; currently 26.8%). Ritchie County, West Virginia contains 127 public highway bridges. Roughly 33.9% are rated “Good,” 39.4% “Fair,” and 26.8% “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
33.9%
43 of 127 rated 7-9
Fair condition
39.4%
50 of 127 rated 5-6
Poor condition
26.8%
34 of 127 rated 4 or below
In-state Poor-share rank
#50 of 55
Among West Virginia counties with 5+ bridges, lower share ranks better
Condition distribution
Share of 127 NBI-tracked bridges by lowest applicable component rating.
Good 33.9% (43)
Fair 39.4% (50)
Poor 26.8% (34)
Ritchie County's Poor-condition bridges carry 10,129 vehicle crossings a day
That is 8.4% of the county's reported daily bridge traffic on 26.8% of its bridges: Poor-condition structures carry less traffic than their share of the inventory. Each Poor bridge averages 298 crossings a day against 888 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 127 of 127 bridges in this county that report an average daily traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
51.2% of Ritchie County's bridges have passed the 50-year mark
65 of the 127 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 33.9% 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 11.8% of the county's Poor-condition bridge traffic
WEST VIRGINIA 16 over WIGNER RUN, built 1926, carries 1,200 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 34-bridge count understates how much of the daily burden sits on a single crossing.
Share is of the 10,129 daily crossings on Poor-rated bridges that report a traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
When Ritchie County's bridges were built
127 bridges with a recorded construction year, grouped by decade
- pre-1900 1
Built before 1900
1 bridges
- 1900s 2
1900–1909
2 bridges
- 1910s
1910–1919
13 bridges
- 1920s
1920–1929
11 bridges
- 1930s
1930–1939
10 bridges
- 1940s 7
1940–1949
7 bridges
- 1950s 3
1950–1959
3 bridges
- 1960s
1960–1969
12 bridges
- 1970s
1970–1979
15 bridges
- 1980s 6
1980–1989
6 bridges
- 1990s
1990–1999
21 bridges
- 2000s
2000–2009
14 bridges
- 2010s 8
2010–2019
8 bridges
- 2020s 4
2020–2029
4 bridges
What this shows Construction peaked in the 1990s, when 21 of the county's bridges still in the inventory were built, which is 16.5% of those with a recorded year. That cohort is now 25 to 34 years old in the 2024 inventory. Its average build year is 1967, 13 years older than the West Virginia average of 1980.
How Ritchie County compares with West Virginia's closest counties by inventory size
The 5 West Virginia counties nearest Ritchie County in number of bridges, with their condition splits. Its 26.8% Poor share is the 6th-lowest of these 6. Its average build year of 1967 against a peer-group mean of 1983 is 16 years older.
Showing the 5 closest of 54 West Virginia counties eligible for comparison.
| County | Bridges | Good | Fair | Poor | Avg. built |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Putnam County | 135 | 32.6% | 51.9% | 15.6% | 1987 |
| Boone County | 131 | 23.7% | 60.3% | 16% | 1986 |
| Hardy County | 131 | 22.1% | 69.5% | 8.4% | 1982 |
| Roane County | 130 | 39.2% | 34.6% | 26.2% | 1976 |
| Ritchie County (this page) | 127 | 33.9% | 39.4% | 26.8% | 1967 |
| Berkeley County | 119 | 28.6% | 66.4% | 5% | 1986 |
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 Ritchie 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 Ritchie County, both outside West Virginia so the neighborhoods are not the same-state size table above.
Similar inventory size
Nearest county inventories outside WV (127 bridges here).
- Yuba County, CA · 127 bridges
- Jefferson County, ID · 127 bridges
- Harrison County, IN · 127 bridges
- Vermillion County, IN · 127 bridges
Similar average build year
Nearest mean year-built outside WV (1967 here).
- Los Angeles County, CA · avg 1967 · 3,547 bridges
- Allegheny County, PA · avg 1967 · 1,294 bridges
- Sonoma County, CA · avg 1967 · 609 bridges
- Merced County, CA · avg 1967 · 528 bridges
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release. Peers floor at 10 bridges so stub inventories cannot own the match.
All bridges (127)
COUNTY ROUTE 19/4
FairOver: SPRUCE CREEK
0.01 MILE EAST OF CR 19, Ritchie, WV
Built 1917 Load: 11.8 t ADT: 50
COUNTY 74/5
FairOver: NORTH FORK HUGHES RIVER
0.15 MI. EAST OF WV 74, Ritchie, WV
Built 1912 Load: 11.8 t ADT: 70
COUNTY ROUTE 9
FairOver: LEFT FORK OF SLAB CREEK
0.03 MI. W. OF CR. 7/7, Ritchie, WV
Built 1915 Load: 14.5 t ADT: 550
CR 15
FairOver: LITTLE CABIN RUN
0.62 MI EAST OF CR 15/7, Ritchie, WV
Built 1917 Load: 14.5 t ADT: 100
COUNTY ROUTE 18
FairOver: MYERS FORK OF GOOSE CK.
0.01 MI. S. OF CR. 18/4, Ritchie, WV
Built 1914 Load: 14.5 t ADT: 150
CITY STREET
FairOver: BUNNELL RUN
0.01 MILE EAST OF WV 74, Ritchie, WV
Built 1920 Load: 14.5 t ADT: 100
COUNTY ROUTE 18
FairOver: GOOSE CREEK
0.01 MI. N. OF CR. 18/1, Ritchie, WV
Built 1918 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 150
COUNTY ROUTE 17/9
FairOver: BRANCH OF DOG RUN
0.01 MI. S. OF CR. 26/1, Ritchie, WV
Built 1915 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 80
COUTNY ROUTE 22
FairOver: WHITE OAK FORK
0.01 MI. S. OF CR 9/12, Ritchie, WV
Built 1917 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 20
COUNTY ROAD 7/19
FairOver: BONE CREEK
0.01 MI S OF WV 74, Ritchie, WV
Built 1937 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 80
COUNTY ROAD 11
FairOver: OIL SPRING RUN
0.16 MI. S. OF CR 11/9, Ritchie, WV
Built 1930 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 40
CR 15
FairOver: CABIN RUN
0.01 MI WEST OF CR 15/7, Ritchie, WV
Built 1924 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 100
CR 15
FairOver: SHEEP RUN
0.08 MI WEST OF CR 15/2, Ritchie, WV
Built 1925 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 100
CO RT 50/34
FairOver: GOOSE CREEK
0.56 MI W CR 50/27, Ritchie, WV
Built 1931 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 250
COUNTY ROUTE 50/40
FairOver: NORTH FORK HUGHES RIVER
0.03 MILE WEST CR 50/24, Ritchie, WV
Built 1929 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 450
WEST VIRGINIA 74
FairOver: STRAIGHT RUN
0.11 MILE SOUTH OF CR 2, Ritchie, WV
Built 1921 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 550
WV 16
FairOver: INDIAN CREEK
0.09 MILE SOUTH CR 16/14, Ritchie, WV
Built 1930 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 1,100
COUNTY ROUTE 19
FairOver: LEFT FORK SPRUCE CREEK
0.01 MILE EAST OF CR 34, Ritchie, WV
Built 1951 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 80
CR 50/39
FairOver: NORTH BEND RAIL TRAIL
0.07 MI W CR 16/10, Ritchie, WV
Built 1966 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 2,600
COUNTY ROUTE 31/4
FairOver: NORTH FORK HUGHES RIVER
0.01 MILE WEST OF WV 31, Ritchie, WV
Built 1937 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 150
WV 74 (F)
FairOver: BEASON RUN
0.01 MI S OF CR 7/3, Ritchie, WV
Built 1929 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 600
COUNTY ROAD 50/39
FairOver: HUSHERS RUN
0.01 MI. E. CR RTE 50/17, Ritchie, WV
Built 1925 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 2,600
WV 74
FairOver: BUNNEL RUN
0.04 MI. S. OF CR 50/39, Ritchie, WV
Built 1940 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 2,000
WEST VIRGINIA 47
FairOver: GRASSY RUN
0.02 M WEST OF CR 47/14, Ritchie, WV
Built 1978 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 750
US 50 EBL & WBL
FairOver: BUNNEL RUN
0.11 MI. E. OF CR. 50/21, Ritchie, WV
Built 1969 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 10,800
WEST VIRGINIA 16
FairOver: BONDS CREEK
0.01 M NORTH OF CR 16/4, Ritchie, WV
Built 1947 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 2,700
WV 74
FairOver: NORTH FORK HUGHES RIVER
0.06 MI. S. OF CR 74/4, Ritchie, WV
Built 1977 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 2,000
CO RT 50/21
FairOver: HORNER RUN
0.01 MI S OF JCT CR 50/39, Ritchie, WV
Built 1969 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 2,600
COUNTY ROUTE 14
FairOver: GAP RUN
0.52 MILE EAST OF CR 8/8, Ritchie, WV
Built 1980 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 200
CR 28
FairOver: Lamb Run
0.01 Miles West of CR28/7, Ritchie, WV
Built 1998 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 100
US 50 WBL
FairOver: CR. 16/6 Hushers Run
0.43 MI. W. OF WV.16, Ritchie, WV
Built 1970 Load: 33.6 t ADT: 4,200
US 50 EBL
FairOver: GOOSE CREEK
0.15 MI. W. OF CR. 18, Ritchie, WV
Built 1969 Load: 35.4 t ADT: 4,100
US 50 WBL
FairOver: GOOSE CREEK
0.15 MI. W. OF CR. 18, Ritchie, WV
Built 1969 Load: 35.4 t ADT: 4,100
US 50 EBL
FairOver: NORTH FK.HUGHES RV.
0.08 MI. W.OF CR. 10, Ritchie, WV
Built 1969 Load: 35.4 t ADT: 6,400
US 50 WBL
FairOver: NORTH FK.HUGHES RIVER
0.08 MI. W OF CR10, Ritchie, WV
Built 1969 Load: 35.4 t ADT: 6,400
COUNTY ROUTE 17/2
FairOver: GILLESPIE RUN
0.01 MI. S. CR.17, Ritchie, WV
Built 1976 Load: 37.2 t ADT: 30
WEST VIRGINIA 53
FairOver: SOUTH FORK HUGHES RIVER
0.09 MILE SOUTH OF WV 47, Ritchie, WV
Built 1987 Load: 37.2 t ADT: 200
US 50 EBL
FairOver: CR 16/6 Hushers Run
0.43 MI. W. OF WV. 16, Ritchie, WV
Built 1970 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 4,200
COUNTY ROUTE 9
FairOver: RT FORK OF WHITE OAK FOR
0.03 MI. W. OF CR 9/9, Ritchie, WV
Built 1987 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 300
US 50 EBL
FairOver: WV RT. 16
0.31 MILE EAST OF CR 16/6, Ritchie, WV
Built 1970 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 4,750
US 50 WBL
FairOver: WV RT. 16
0.31 MILE EAST OF CR 16/6, Ritchie, WV
Built 1970 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 4,750
COUNTY ROUTE 10
FairOver: SUGAR RUN
0.12 MILE W OF CR 50/40, Ritchie, WV
Built 1997 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 450
COUNTY ROUTE 17
FairOver: INDIAN RUN
0.03 M WEST OF CR 17/7, Ritchie, WV
Built 1975 Load: 41.7 t ADT: 250
COUNTY ROUTE 16/9
FairOver: STEWART RUN
0.23 M NORTH OF WV 16, Ritchie, WV
Built 1979 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 70
WEST VIRGINIA 74
FairOver: SPRING RUN
0.01 MILE SOUTH OF CR 10, Ritchie, WV
Built 2000 Load: 50.8 t ADT: 750
COUNTY ROUTE 24/7
FairOver: CHEVAUX DE FRIZE RUN
0.01 MILE SOUTH OF CR 24, Ritchie, WV
Built 1938 Load: 51.7 t ADT: 150
COUNTY ROUTE 15
FairOver: BUFFALO RUN
0.01 MILE WEST OF CR 15/9, Ritchie, WV
Built 1997 Load: 52.6 t ADT: 350
COUNTY ROUTE 50/20
FairOver: HORNER RUN
0.05 MILE N OF CR 50/39, Ritchie, WV
Built 1992 Load: 54.4 t ADT: 50
CR 17
FairOver: NORTH FORK HUGHES RIVER
0.06 MI. E. CR. 15, Ritchie, WV
Built 1992 Load: 59.0 t ADT: 150
CR 11
FairOver: GOOSE CREEK
0.11 MI S OF CR 18, Ritchie, WV
Built 1996 Load: 71.7 t ADT: 40
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.