County profile · official public datasets

Wetzel County, WV

107 public highway bridges tracked in the FHWA National Bridge Inventory: 39.3% rated Good, 34.6% Fair, 26.2% Poor.

107
Public bridges
39.3%
Good condition
26.2%
Poor condition

The verdict

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

Wetzel 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.

48th
of 55 on Poor share
26.2%
Poor-condition share
107
public highway bridges
1975
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.

Wetzel County Bridge Snapshot

According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory, Wetzel County ranks #48 of 55 West Virginia counties with at least 5 public highway bridges on Poor-condition share (lower share ranks better; currently 26.2%). Wetzel County, West Virginia contains 107 public highway bridges. Roughly 39.3% are rated “Good,” 34.6% “Fair,” and 26.2% “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

107

Public highway bridges in Wetzel County

Good condition

39.3%

42 of 107 rated 7-9

Fair condition

34.6%

37 of 107 rated 5-6

Poor condition

26.2%

28 of 107 rated 4 or below

In-state Poor-share rank

#48 of 55

Among West Virginia counties with 5+ bridges, lower share ranks better

Condition distribution

Share of 107 NBI-tracked bridges by lowest applicable component rating.

Good
39.3% (42)
Fair
34.6% (37)
Poor
26.2% (28)

Wetzel County's Poor-condition bridges carry 25,340 vehicle crossings a day

That is 20.7% of the county's reported daily bridge traffic on 26.2% of its bridges: Poor-condition structures carry less traffic than their share of the inventory. Each Poor bridge averages 905 crossings a day against 1,078 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 107 of 107 bridges in this county that report an average daily traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.

42.1% of Wetzel County's bridges have passed the 50-year mark

45 of the 107 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 39.3% 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 25.7% of the county's Poor-condition bridge traffic

West Virginia 7 SP over WV 2 NB & SB, built 1960, carries 6,500 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 28-bridge count understates how much of the daily burden sits on a single crossing.

Share is of the 25,340 daily crossings on Poor-rated bridges that report a traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.

When Wetzel County's bridges were built

107 bridges with a recorded construction year, grouped by decade

bridges

What this shows Construction peaked in the 2000s, when 22 of the county's bridges still in the inventory were built, which is 20.6% of those with a recorded year. That cohort is now 15 to 24 years old in the 2024 inventory. Its average build year is 1975, 5 years older than the West Virginia average of 1980.

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

How Wetzel County compares with West Virginia's closest counties by inventory size

The 5 West Virginia counties nearest Wetzel County in number of bridges, with their condition splits. Its 26.2% Poor share is the 5th-lowest of these 6. Its average build year of 1975 against a peer-group mean of 1974 is in line with the group.

Showing the 5 closest of 54 West Virginia counties eligible for comparison.

Bridge inventory size and condition shares for Wetzel County and the 5 West Virginia counties closest to it in inventory size
County Bridges Poor
Ohio County 115 27%
Pendleton County 114 21.1%
Wetzel County (this page) 107 26.2%
Gilmer County 106 14.2%
Doddridge County 99 24.2%
Upshur County 99 12.1%

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 Wetzel 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 Wetzel County, both outside West Virginia so the neighborhoods are not the same-state size table above.

Similar inventory size

Nearest county inventories outside WV (107 bridges here).

Similar average build year

Nearest mean year-built outside WV (1975 here).

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

All 107 Good 42 Fair 37 Poor 28

All bridges (107)

County Route 84

Fair

Over: South Fork Fishing Creek

0.10 mi. South jct WV 20, Wetzel, WV

Built 1914 Load: 10.9 t ADT: 60

County Route 15/2

Fair

Over: North Fork Fishing Creek

0.02 mi. South jct CR 15, Wetzel, WV

Built 1917 Load: 14.5 t ADT: 50

County Route 12

Fair

Over: Long Drain

0.88 mi. South jct CR7/17, Wetzel, WV

Built 1927 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 50

West Virginia 20

Fair

Over: Price Run

0.06 mi. South jct CR21, Wetzel, WV

Built 1938 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 1,200

West Virginia 20

Fair

Over: Shenango Creek

0.33 mi. North jct C20/14, Wetzel, WV

Built 1940 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 2,900

West Virginia 7

Fair

Over: Rush Run

0.01 mi. West jct CR 7/20, Wetzel, WV

Built 1969 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 1,600

West Virginia 7

Fair

Over: Knob Fork

0.40 mi. West jct CR 7/14, Wetzel, WV

Built 1935 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 1,300

West Virginia 20

Fair

Over: South Fork Fishing Creek

0.21 mi. North jct CR20/5, Wetzel, WV

Built 1980 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 1,200

West Virginia 20

Fair

Over: Fallen Timber Run

0.02 mi. North jct CR 78, Wetzel, WV

Built 1938 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 1,700

West Virginia 20

Fair

Over: Money Run

0.06 mi. South jct CR42, Wetzel, WV

Built 1938 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 2,300

WV 07

Fair

Over: CSX RR OHIO RIVER

0.56 MI WEST JCT WV 2, Wetzel, WV

Built 1959 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 8,576

Main Street

Fair

Over: Fishing Creek

0.50 mi. West jct WV 2, Wetzel, WV

Built 1974 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 1,300

COUNTY ROUTE 20/9

Fair

Over: SOUTH FORK FISHING CREEK

0.01 MI SOUTH JCT WV 20, Wetzel, WV

Built 1976 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 10

West Virginia 69

Fair

Over: Cappo Run

0.01 mi. South jct CR69/1, Wetzel, WV

Built 1928 Load: 33.6 t ADT: 1,300

County Route 76

Fair

Over: North Fork Richwood Run

0.03 mi. East CR15/2, Wetzel, WV

Built 1918 Load: 33.6 t ADT: 50

County Route 13

Fair

Over: WV Fork Fish Creek

0.13 mi. South jct US250, Wetzel, WV

Built 1898 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 250

County Route 56/1

Fair

Over: Piney Fork

0.01 mi. South jct CR56, Wetzel, WV

Built 1974 Load: 41.7 t ADT: 50

United States 250

Fair

Over: WV Fork of Fish Creek

0.23 mi. North of CR250/8, Wetzel, WV

Built 2006 Load: 41.7 t ADT: 500

City Street

Fair

Over: North Fork Fishing Creek

0.04 mi. North jct WV 20, Wetzel, WV

Built 1974 Load: 42.6 t ADT: 2,400

West Virginia 7

Fair

Over: Fishing Creek

0.06 mi. West jct CR 32, Wetzel, WV

Built 1973 Load: 43.5 t ADT: 3,900

West Virginia 7

Fair

Over: Fishing Creek

0.11 mi. East jct. CR 32, Wetzel, WV

Built 1972 Load: 43.5 t ADT: 3,900

County Route 34

Fair

Over: Skinner Hollow Run

0.90 mi. West jct CR 36, Wetzel, WV

Built 1980 Load: 43.5 t ADT: 10

County Rt. 250/12

Fair

Over: WV Fork of Fish Creek

0.12 mi. West jct US250, Wetzel, WV

Built 2005 Load: 43.5 t ADT: 90

County Route 20/1

Fair

Over: Fishing Creek

0.01 mi. North jct CR 44, Wetzel, WV

Built 1987 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 150

County Route 56

Fair

Over: Fishing Creek

0.01 mi. South jct WV20, Wetzel, WV

Built 1977 Load: 48.1 t ADT: 450

County Route 19

Fair

Over: Raccoon Run

0.02 Mi. East Jct CR 19/4, Wetzel, WV

Built 2002 Load: 48.1 t ADT: 50

UNITED STATES 250

Fair

Over: WV FORK OF FISH CREEK

0.58 MI NORTH JCT CR 16, Wetzel, WV

Built 1979 Load: 52.6 t ADT: 1,000

CR 8

Fair

Over: WV Fork of Fish Creek

0.68 mi. South jct CR 8/9, Wetzel, WV

Built 1997 Load: 52.6 t ADT: 90

COUNTY ROUTE 15

Fair

Over: MAUD RUN

0.01 MI WEST JCT CR 60, Wetzel, WV

Built 1989 Load: 54.4 t ADT: 250

County Route 250/9

Fair

Over: WV Fork of Fish Creek

0.01 mi. East jct US 250, Wetzel, WV

Built 2013 Load: 58.0 t ADT: 50

CR 250/11

Fair

Over: Fish Creek

0.02 mi. West jct US250, Wetzel, WV

Built 2000 Load: 59.0 t ADT: 50

COUNTY ROUTE 15

Fair

Over: BETSY RUN

0.85 MI WEST JCT CR 60, Wetzel, WV

Built 1989 Load: 61.7 t ADT: 250

County Route 82

Fair

Over: Buffalo Run

0.32 mi. South jct WV 20, Wetzel, WV

Built 2012 Load: 61.7 t ADT: 400

County Route 12

Fair

Over: WV Fork of Fish Creek

0.01 mi. South jct US 250, Wetzel, WV

Built 2006 Load: 77.1 t ADT: 51

West Virginia 20

Fair

Over: South Fork Fishing Creek

0.02 mi. North jct CR15, Wetzel, WV

Built 2003 Load: 80.7 t ADT: 2,900

West Virginia 2

Fair

Over: Doolin Run

0.15 mi. North jct WV 7, Wetzel, WV

Built 1936 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 10,400

West Virginia 7

Fair

Over: WV Fork of Fish Creek

0.08 mi. West jct US 250, Wetzel, WV

Built 1936 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 1,200

County Route 48

Good

Over: Brush Run

0.35 mi. South jct CR 50, Wetzel, WV

Built 2002 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 90

County Route 15

Good

Over: Willey Fork

0.01 mi. East jct CR19, Wetzel, WV

Built 1984 Load: 34.5 t ADT: 300

West Virginia 7

Good

Over: Hartley Run

0.03 mi. East jct CR24, Wetzel, WV

Built 1988 Load: 35.4 t ADT: 1,600

CR 64

Good

Over: Long Drain

0.01 mi. South jct CR64/2, Wetzel, WV

Built 2003 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 350

WV ROUTE 2

Good

Over: Proctor Creek

.06 mi. South jct CR89, Wetzel, WV

Built 2019 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 5,600

County Route 20/14

Good

Over: North Fork Fishing Creek

0.01 mi. West jct CR15, Wetzel, WV

Built 2009 Load: 37.2 t ADT: 90

US Route 250

Good

Over: Browns Run

0.01 mi. South jct CR14, Wetzel, WV

Built 1994 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 650

County Route 82

Good

Over: South Fork Fishing Creek

0.03 mi. South jct WV20, Wetzel, WV

Built 2004 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 400

County Route 17

Good

Over: Barker Run

1.07 mi. North jct CR15, Wetzel, WV

Built 2011 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 600

West Virginia 20

Good

Over: Little Fishing Creek

0.18 mi. South jct WV7, Wetzel, WV

Built 1977 Load: 41.7 t ADT: 2,100

County Route 20/4

Good

Over: Upper Run

2.00 mi. East jct WV20, Wetzel, WV

Built 1979 Load: 41.7 t ADT: 50

Harp Road 902

Good

Over: Price Run

0.02 Mi. So. Jct. CR 21, Wetzel, WV

Built 2002 Load: 41.7 t ADT: 50

West Virginia 20

Good

Over: Reader Run

0.01 Mi. South Jct. CR 52, Wetzel, WV

Built 2008 Load: 41.7 t ADT: 3,800

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.